Therapeutic role of Rauwolfia serpentina in minimizing the risk of glycosylation and associated biomarkers in experimentally induced type 1 diabetic mice.

Present work investigates the effects of hydro-methanolic roots extract (HyMREt) of Rauwolfia serpentina in type 1 diabetic mice. Mice were divided into normal, diabetic, negative and positive controls (I-IV) and three test (HyMREt doses) groups (V-VII - 50, 100, &150mg/kg). Allocated treatment of each group was given orally for 14 days in overnight fasted state. Percent change in fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weights, body tissue weights, hepatic glycogen, total lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), complete blood profile and antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated. HyMREt doses produced meaningful (p<0.0001) reduction (-39 to -53%) in FBG. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were raised, HbA1c were considerably decreased (4.5-3.77%) and glycosylation (HbA1c to Hb) ratio was expressively (p<0.0001) improved in test groups. Dose-wise improvement (p< 0.05) in total glycogen and decrement (p<0.05) in lipids were observed in livers of test groups. HyMREt significantly decreased (p<0.05) percent inhibition of SOD and CAT. HyMREt doses progressively (p<0.05) improved RBC and other hematological parameters while decrement was only noticed in leucocyte counts. Administration of test doses of HyMREt were significantly reduced the glycosylation, oxidative stress and anemia caused by alloxan intoxication in mice.

Raisins: A kitchen cabinet item can restores the liver function and structure.

The aqueous methanol extract of raisins (Vitis vinifera) was investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxic rats model. Where it was found to revert the alteration induced by CCl4 in liver structure and function by improving the body weights, liver index, liver and bile duct specific enzymes, liver conjugative and synthetic markers, reduced glutathione and the total bilirubin/ albumin ratio while increasing the percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation in test groups treated with extract in doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight as compared to negative control group only treated with CCl4 3mL/kg that showed entirely opposite picture of all these parameters. Silymarin 100 mg/kg was used as reference hepatoprotective medicine in present study. In addition, histopathological studies of liver tissues of test groups displayed the restoration of liver anatomy. Therefore, raisins' extract proved to have liver protective, regenerative and antioxidant properties. These might reside in total phenolic content particularly in gallic acid and rutin in extract estimated and detected by spectrophotometric and high performance liquid chromatographic methods.

Vitamin D and bone metabolism in breast cancer patients in Karachi, Pakistan.

Breast cancer is one of the common types of malignancy worldwide and in Pakistan. The heterogeneous disease itself and its complex treatment leads to various bone-affecting complications that make breast cancer patients more vulnerable to bone fractures. Vitamin D deficiency among these women worsens the condition and promotes breast cancer growth. Thus, the purpose of the study was to assess serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and bone markers in women suffering from breast cancer. Serum levels of 25OHD, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone specific ALP, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), albumin (Alb) and beta carboxyl terminal collagen crosslink (ß-CTx) were analyzed in 201 histological diagnosed patient volunteers from breast cancer clinic. Vitamin D insufficiency was present among the total study population and deficiency was particularly observed among women with metastases. These patients had significantly increased serum levels of ß-CTx and bone specific ALP when compared with the non-metastatic group. No significant difference was observed in other biochemical parameters. A weak correlation between serum levels of 25OHD and ß-CTx was observed. Therefore, monitoring of serum levels of 25OHD and bone markers at the time of diagnosis and during the course of treatment will endeavor a better overall health status.

Presence of gallic acid and rutin improve the hepatoprotective strength of Withania coagulans.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is one of the chemicals used in industry reported to accelerate the risk of liver diseases in workers especially in developing countries, if it is not handled carefully. Therefore, the present study conducted to evaluate the liver protective and oxidative stress reducing activities of methanolic (MFEt) and aqueous methanolic fruits (AqMFEt) extracts of Withania coagulans against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. These fruits extracts in oral doses of 800 mg/kg were found effective in their respective test groups in decreasing weight loss, maintaining hepatic membrane integrity, biosynthetic and conjugative abilities by improving liver and bile duct specific enzymes (alanine and aspartate transferases, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltranstransferase), total protein and bilirubin profiles, uric acid levels plus uplifting the efficacy of hepatic antioxidant enzymes and protein by minimizing lipid peroxidation. All these beneficial effects confirmed by observing normal anatomical features of liver tissues in test groups. Total phenolic compounds were found high in AqMFEt. Interestingly, for the first time, gallic acid and rutin are identified and quantified in these extracts and thought to improve hepatoprotective potential of W. coagulans.

Ameliorative effect of hydro-methanolic extract from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina on some biochemical parameters of type 1 diabetic mice.

Present work seeks to investigate the biochemical parameters in terms of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of hydro-methanolic roots extract (HyMREt) of Rauwolfia serpentina in type 1 (alloxan induced) diabetic mice. Animals were divided into seven groups, four control groups, and three were test groups (HyMREt at 50, 100, & 150mg/kg). Each treatment was repeated for 14 days regularly in all seven respective groups and afterwards the body weights, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, and serum lipid levels were determined. Total body weights of diabetic mice treated with HyMREt extract were dose dependently (p<0.05) improved. FBG of test groups were significantly (p<0.0001) reduced in comparison with diabetic controls which displayed elevated fasting blood glucose level. The insulin levels of HyMREt treated groups were significantly (p<0.0001) higher than those of diabetic controls. Lower triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c) whereas elevated level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were observed in test dose treated groups. In comparison with diabetic controls, the converse levels of serum lipid were observed. Significant improvement in cardio-protective indices and coronary risk index was also observed. Findings of present study support the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic potential of HyMREt of R. serpentina.