Antiatherogenic and antiperoxidative effects of garlic and soy proteins in alcohol fed rats.

Rats fed with alcohol (18%) at 3.76 g/day for 45 days showed significant reduction in body weight, glutathione (GSH) content and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in liver. Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in plasma, levels of HDL cholesterol in serum, hepatic bile acid production and fecal excretion of neutral sterols also showed significant reduction. Simultaneous feeding of garlic protein (GP) or soy protein (SP) (500 mg/kg body weight/day for 45 days) to alcohol fed groups increased each of above parameters significantly towards normal values. Increase in GSH content and catalase activity in liver, was significantly higher for SP treated group than for GP treated group. However, increase in plasma LCAT was significantly higher for GP treated group than for SP treated group. Alcohol fed rats showed significant increase in liver weight, serum and tissue cholesterol, serum triacylglycerol (TAG), phospholipids (PL) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels and activity of HMGCoA reductase in liver and intestine. Lipid peroxidation, glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) in liver and incorporation of labeled acetate into liver cholesterol also showed significant increase. GP and SP treated rats showed decrease in these values towards normal. GP feeding showed a better effect than SP in lowering serum and heart total cholesterol, and in maintaining GPx at near normal level, while SP feeding showed a better effect in lowering serum FFA level and maintaining GR activity at near normal level. In suppressing incorporation of labeled acetate into serum cholesterol, GP feeding showed a better effect than SP. Antiatherogenic and antiperoxidative effects of these proteins may be due to lower lysine/arginine ratio.

Nutraceutical effects of garlic oil, its nonpolar fraction and a Ficus flavonoid as compared to vitamin E in CCl4 induced liver damage in rats.

Carbon tetrachloride feeding (3.2g/kg/72hr) for one month increased significantly the serum and tissue lipid profile and deranged the enzyme levels viz; alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, glutathionze reductase, HMGCoA reductase, catalase, gluc.6.PDH and malic enzyme in rats. Simultaneously the lipid peroxidation level in liver was also raised. On administration of garlic oil and its major nonpolar fraction (NPFGO) and a flavonoid isolated from the bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn, viz; leucopelargonin derivative respectively to different groups(100mg/kg/day) the deleterious effects of CCl4 were significantly ameliorated. The liver damage by CCl4 was satisfactorily prevented by these samples as effectively as Vit. E (50 mg/kg/day). The results prove that important nutraceuticals (phytonutrients) like bioflavonoids and theols i.e. allylic sulphide rich fractions give protection from toxins like CCl4. The order of beneficial effects of the drugs are Leucopelargonin > NPFGO > Garlic oil and their effects are comparable to that of vitamin E used at a minimal dose.

Beneficial effects of a polar fraction of garlic (Allium sativum Linn) oil in rats fed with two different high fat diets.

Feeding a diet containing 20% of sesame oil (SO) or coconut oil (CNO) along with 2% cholesterol to rats for two months showed differences in their serum and tissue lipid profile and certain enzyme activities. Hyperlipidemia and related oxidative effects were more pronounced in coconut oil fed rats than those fed sesame oil. Feeding a combination of the oils (10% CNO +10% SO) lowered significantly the hyperlipidemia and certain other deleterious effects of CNO. Feeding a polar fraction of garlic oil (PFGO) prepared in the same way as for ajoene and administered at a dosage of 100 mg/kg along with each of the above oil containing diets counteracted significantly the hyperlipidemic, oxidant and also most of the other deleterious effects of the oils like raised lipid levels in serum and tissues, raised serum levels of AST and tissue levels of HMGCoA reductase and the lowered serum and tissue levels of glutathione reductase. The results support the claims that ajoene, the major polar compound of garlic oil, has very good biological action, which warrants further study.

Mechanism of action of antiatherogenic and related effects of Ficus bengalensis Linn. flavonoids in experimental animals.

One month treatment of alloxan diabetic dogs with a glycoside, viz. leucopelargonin derivative (100 mg/kg/day) isolated from the bark of F. bengalensis decreased fasting blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin by 34% and 28% respectively. Body weight was maintained in both the treated groups while the same was decreased significantly by 10% in the control group. In cholesterol diet fed rats, as the atherogenic index and the hepatic bile acid level and the faecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols increased, the HMGCoA reductase and lipogenic enzyme activities in liver and lipoprotien lipase activity in heart and adipose tissue and plasma LCAT activity and the incorporation of labelled acetate into free and ester cholesterol in liver decreased significantly. On treatment with the two ficus flavonoids, viz. leucopelargonin and leucocyanin derivatives and another flavonoid quercetin (100 mg/kg/day) the above said effects except on bile acids and sterols and lipogenic enzymes were significantly reversed in the cholesterol fed rats. However in the treated rats the hepatic level of bile acids and the faecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols still further increased and the action of lipogenic enzyme glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase was still further decreased. These effects of leucopelargonidin and quercetin were better than that of the second. Toxicity studies are required to be carried out to find out if the ficus flavonoids could be used as health promoters as they are hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant in action.

Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide isolated from onions (Allium cepa Linn) as compared to standard drugs in alloxan diabetic rats.

Antidiabetic and antoxidant effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCS) isolated from A. cepa and two standard drugs, glibenclamide and insulin were studied and compared in alloxan diabetic rats after using each of them for treatment for two months. These drugs ameliorated the diabetic condition significantly, viz. maintenance of body weight and control of blood sugar in rats. Further they lowered the levels of malondialdehyde, hydroperoxide and conjugated dienes in tissues exhibiting antioxidant effect on lipid peroxidation in experimental diabetes. This is achieved by their stimulating effects on glucose utilization and the antioxidant enzymes, viz. superoxide dismutase and catalase. The probable mechanism of action of SMCS and glibenclamide may be partly dependent on the stimulation of insulin secretions and partly due to their individual actions. In the amelioration of diabetes the standard drugs showed a better action, but as an antioxidant SMCS proved to be a better one.

A comparative study on the beneficial effects of garlic (Allium sativum Linn), amla (Emblica Officinalis Gaertn)and onion (Allium cepa Linn) on the hyperlipidemia induced by butter fat and beef fat in rats.

Three months feeding of butter fat (BUF) and beef (BF) separately as components of diet at a level of 21% by weight for albino rats, significantly raised their serum and tissue lipids, lipid peroxidation and activities of certain enzymes. BUF was found to be more atherogenic than BF. On incorporation of 5% garlic, amla or onion separately in the above diets, each of them ameliorated the deleterious effects of the animal fats. A higher hyperlipidemic effect of BUF as compared to that of BF may be due to the fact that the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fats is lower for the former (0.56) than for the latter (0.75) and also that the former is richer in cholesterol content than the latter. The order of the curative effects of the vegetables are garlic>amla>onion. The better hypolipidemic effects and correction of elevated levels of certain enzymes shown by garlic and amla may be due to the facts that they contain comparatively better active principles than that found in onions.

Beneficial effects of garlic (Allium sativum Linn) on rats fed with diets containing cholesterol and either of the oil seeds, coconuts or groundnuts.

Feeding of 2% cholesterol diet increased lipid parameters in serum and tissues of rats during a period of one month. In addition to the above, lipid peroxidation also increased and activities of certain enzymes were significantly altered in the tissues. Similar changes were also observed to a greater extent with diets containing 40% by weight of coconut kernel or groundnut with and without 2% cholesterol. The enzymes studied were HMGCoA reductase, AST, ALT and ALP in tissues and serum as the case may be. In general the atherogenic effects were observed more with groundnut containing diets than those with coconut. Even though the oil from the former is mostly unsaturated and that from the latter is mostly saturated, these analytical criteria do not relate to their atherogenic effects. When 5% garlic was incorporated with any of the high fat diets, the lipid parameters, their peroxidation and alterations in enzyme activities were significantly decreased. These results show that garlic contains some principles that counteract the atherogenicity of the above oil seeds.

Hypoglycaemic and anti-oxidant activity of Salacia oblonga Wall. extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The petroleum ether extract of the root bark of S. oblonga Wall. (Celastraceae) (SOB) was studied in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats and anti-lipid peroxidative activity of the same was studied in the cardiac tissue. SOB prevented significantly the streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia and hypoinsulinaemia. It also produced a significant decrease in peroxidation products viz. thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (P < 0.001), conjugated dienes (P < 0.05), hydroperoxides (P < 0.001). The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (P < 0.001), catalase (P < 0.001), GSHPxase and GSSGRase was found to be increased in the heart tissue of diabetic animals treated with SOB. These results suggest that S. oblonga root bark extract possesses anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative activity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Biochemical effects of garlic protein on lipid metabolism in alcohol fed rats.

Garlic protein is a very good hypolipidemic agent. In the present study the water soluble protein fraction of garlic was investigated for its effect on hyperlipidemia induced by alcohol (3.76 g/kg. body wt./day). The hypolipidemic action is mainly due to an increase in cholesterol degradation to bile acids and neutral sterols and mobilization of triacyl glycerols in treated rats. Garlic protein (500 mg./kg body wt./day) showed significant hypolipidemic action comparable with a standard dose of gugu-lipid (50 mg./kg. body wt./day).

Antioxidant effect of two flavonoids from the bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn in hyperlipidemic rats.

Two flavonoid compounds, viz. 5,7-dimethyl ether of leucopelargonidin 3-0-alpha-L rhamnoside and 5,3'-dimethyl ether of leucocyanidin 3-0-alpha-D galactosyl cellobioside obtained from the bark of F. bengalensis were evaluated for their antioxidant action in hyperlipidemic rats. The results were compared with the activity of a structurally similar flavonoid, quercetin, a known antioxidant. The Ficus compounds showed significant antioxidant effects which may be attributed to their polyphenolic nature. The methylation of two hydrozyl groups in the Ficus flavonoids might have slowed down their antioxidant action as compared to quercetin.

Purification of an allergenic protein fraction from wheat grain.

An allergenic protein fraction was isolated from wheat gluten by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. On sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis the molecular mass of the protein was found to be 65 kDa. By Western blotting it was confirmed that the 65 kDa protein was the major allergenic fraction causing dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and it contained glutamic acid and proline as the major amino acids.

Antiperoxide effect of garlic protein in alcohol fed rats.

Rats fed ethanol (3.76g/Kg body wt/day) for about 45 days exhibited high levels of tissue malondialdehyde, hydroperoxide and diene conjugates. Activity of tissue superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione content decreased. Administration of water soluble proteins of garlic (500 mg/kg body wt/day) to alcohol fed rats showed significant increase in antiperoxide activity and decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione s transferase as compared to a standard drug gugulipid (50 mg/kg body wt/day).

Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.).

Onion and garlic contain many sulfur containing active principles mainly in the form of cysteine derivatives, viz. S-alkyl cysteine sulfoxides which decompose into a variety of thiosulfinates and polysulfides by the action of an enzyme allinase on extraction. Decomposed products are volatile and present in the oils of onion and garlic. They possess antidiabetic, antibiotic, hypocholesterolaemic, fibrinolytic and various other biological actions. In addition to free sulfoxides in alliums, there are nonvolatile sulfur-containing peptides and proteins which possess various activities and thus make these vegetables as an important source of therapeutic agents. As allyl and related sulfoxides are inhibiting thiol group enzymes, alliums are to be used only in limited quantities.

Hypolipidemic effect of garlic protein substituted for casein in diet of rats compared to those of garlic oil.

Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) is ascribed with many therapeutic effects. For the present study, the water soluble proteins and the essential oil of garlic were investigated for their hypolipidemic effect on hyperlipidemia induced by cholesterol containing diet in albino rats. Both garlic protein (16% of diet) and garlic oil (100 mg/kg body weight/day) exhibited significant lipid lowering effects. The hypolipidemic action is primarily due to a decrease in hepatic cholesterogenesis in the treated rats. Even though garlic oil was found to be more effective, the garlic protein is more palatable and free from an obnoxious smell.

Biochemical effects of garlic protein diet and garlic oil on glycosaminoglycan metabolism in cholesterol fed rats.

Garlic protein diet or daily administration of garlic oil to 2% cholesterol fed rats controlled significantly the increases in sulphated glycosaminoglycans in their heart and aorta. However hyaluronic acid level increased. UDPG dehydrogenase decreased and several degrading enzymes increased in the aorta on treatment. The effects of treatment were just the reverse in liver. The high percentage of cysteine in garlic protein and the reactive disulphide group in the oil may be responsible for their beneficial effects.

Biologically active principles isolated from Salacia oblonga wall.

From the petroleum ether extract of the root bark of Salacia Oblonga wall, two biologically active fractions have been isolated by column and thin layer chromatography. The methanol eluted fraction of the extract absorbed on a column of silica gel at a concentration of 50 micrograms/ml showed 100 percent cytotoxicity on Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. The chloroform eluted fraction of the pet. ether extract and a fluorescent compound separated from it by TLC demonstrated about 60% and 76% hypoglycemic potency of an equal dose of tolbutamide (250 mg/kg) in albino rats. The results indicate the therapeutic importance of S. Oblonga wall.

Effects of S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide isolated from Allium sativum Linn and gugulipid on some enzymes and fecal excretions of bile acids and sterols in cholesterol fed rats.

S-allyl cysteine sulfoxide, isolated from garlic, A. sativum, is more or less as active as gugulipid in controlling hypercholestermia, obesity and derangement of enzyme activities in cholesterol diet fed rats. The beneficial effects of the drugs are partly due to their inhibitory effects on transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lipogenic enzymes and HMG CoA reductase and partly due to their stimulatory effects on plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase lipolytic enzymes and fecal excretion of sterols and bile acids.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease in noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Plasma levels of fasting and post-prandial blood sugar, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDLc), LDL cholesterol (LDLc) and free fatty acids (FFA) were estimated in 213 diabetic patients (NIDDM) with coronary heart disease (CHD-group 4), 252 CHD patients (non-diabetic CHD-group 3), 164 non-insulin dependent diabetics (NIDDM-group 2) and 173 healthy subjects (controls-group 1) who did not have any clinical evidence of CHD, diabetes mellitus or any family history of the above diseases. Data was analysed by ANOVA along with the Duncan procedure and multiple logistic regression. Lipid profile of diabetic CHD patients was characterised by significantly higher concentration of TC, TG, LDLc, FFA, LDLc/HDLc ratio and lower concentration of HDLc. However, in a multivariate logistic regression analysis using 14 known risk factors, diastolic blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption and higher FFA levels seemed to be predictors of CHD in diabetics, overriding the influence of lipoprotein abnormalities. The same was true for nondiabetic patients also in whom BMI, FFA and alcohol consumption were found to be significant predictors of CHD. Thus, even though lipid abnormalities are more prominent in diabetics, the coexistence of obesity and hypertension seem to be important factors in diabetics for the development of CHD.

Antiperoxide effects of S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide isolated from Allium sativum Linn and gugulipid in cholesterol diet fed rats.

Cholesterol containing diet significantly increased not only the body weight, but also the weight of liver and adipose tissue of rats. This is accompanied by a significant increase in blood lipids, atherogenic index and lipid peroxidation and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in tissues. Treatment with S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide reverses the deleterious effects of cholesterol diet significantly and almost as effectively as gugulipid.

Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide isolated from Allium cepa Linn.

S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide (SMCS), a sulphur containing amino acid isolated from onion (Allium cepa Linn) showed antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects. Oral administration of SMCS daily at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight for a period of 45 days to alloxan diabetic rats controlled significantly their blood glucose and lipids in serum and tissues and altered the activities of liver hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphatase and HMG CoA reductase towards normal. The above effects of SMCS were comparable to those of glibenclamide and insulin.