Fructooligosaccharides from Cynoglossum tubiflorus: Effect of the molecular size on their antidiabetic activity in high-fat diet and alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The use of acetylation followed by silica gel column purification allowed the isolation of eight fructooligosaccharides (FOS) from the ethanol extract of Cynoglossum tubiflorus roots. Each FOS was identified by analyzing its FT-IR, HRMS/MS and NMR data, including 1H, 13C and 2D NMR HH COSY, HMBC and NOESY. In diabetic rats treated with a series of FOS from Glc-(Fru)3 to Glc-(Fru)7, a significant inhibition of intestinal α-amylase was observed. This activity increases proportionally with the FOS molecular size. It was found that they delay the absorption of total cholesterol (TC), ldl-cholesterol (LDL-C) and increase HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in a molecular size-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect on the activity of the digestive enzyme causes a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the level of glucose in the blood as an anti-diabetic action. The ethanolic extract (E.E) exerts a significant effect against α-amylase as well as antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic actions, while its acetylation suppresses these effects. Therefore, this study demonstrates for the first time that pure FOS act as an efficient agent in preventing hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and that this action evolves in the same manner with their molecular size.

Globularia alypum Extracts Attenuate Hyperglycemia and Protect against Various Organ Toxicities in Alloxan-Induced Experimental Diabetic Rats.

In this study, we attempted for the first time to determine the phytochemical compositions and biopharmaceutical properties of Globularia alypum methanol extract (GAME) and Globularia alypum water extract (GAWE). High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis was performed to establish the chemical profile of the investigated extracts. Chemical composition analysis was taken in the presence of various bioactive compounds such as quercetin 7-O-glucoside and apigenin 7-O-glucoside in GAME. In GAWE, various abundant compounds were found in the extract such as quercetin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin, quercetin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, and cinnamic acid. This study showed that the administration of GAWE and GAME to type 1 diabetic rats decreased fasting blood glucose, protected pancreas ß-cells from death and injury, increased liver glycogen rate, and ameliorated oral glucose tolerance test. Moreover, GA reduced weight loss, and diabetes decreased basic physical activity. In addition, the administration of GA extracts in diabetic rats protected from diabetes-induced liver, kidney, testes, heart, and bone toxicities. Conclusion. GAWE has possible value for antidiabetic oral medication.

Anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-antipyretic and analgesic activities of Globularia alypum extracts.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemic, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Globularia alypum (GA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: GA methanol and water extracts (GAME, GAWE) were administered to high-fat-high-glucose diet (HFFD) rats. RESULTS: This study showed that GAME exhibited the highest antioxidant, anti-α-amylase and anti-lipase activities, with half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values 0.067, 1.05 and 2.97 mg/ml respectively. In HFFD rats, the administration of GAME inhibited lipase activity by 36, 37 and 30% in the intestine, pancreas and serum, respectively, reduced body weight by 17.7% and modulated lipid profile. In addition, administration of GAME to HFFD-rats decreased α-amylase activity, improved glucose level and protected liver function. Furthermore, the administration of GA extracts to rats revealed antipyretic (reduction in writhing by 64%) and analgesic (decrease of temperature by 1.11 °C) activities. CONCLUSION: This study showed that GA extracts exhibited an anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemia, anti-pyretic and analgesic activities.

Antihyperlipidemic, Antihyperglycemic, and Liver Function Protection of Olea europaea var. Meski Stone and Seed Extracts: LC-ESI-HRMS-Based Composition Analysis.

Methanol and methanol/water extracts of olive stones and seeds from Olea europaea var. meski were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 28 metabolites were identified; among them are hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, phenolic alcohols, flavonoids and flavonoid glucosides, secoiridoids, and terpenes. All the extracts were screened for the inhibitory effect of key enzymes related to diabetes and obesity, such as α-amylase and lipase. An in vitro study revealed that Olea meski stone ethanol (MSE) and methanol (MSM) extracts and Olea meski seed ethanol (MSE1) and methanol (MSM1) extracts exert an inhibitory action against lipase and α-amylase. The most potent activity was observed in the StM extract with IC50 equal to 0.19 mg/ml against DPPH oxidation, 1.04 mg/ml against α-amylase, and 2.13 mg/ml against lipase. In HFFD rats, the findings indicated that the increase of body weight, LDL, TC, and glucose levels and then the decrease in HDL-C were significantly suppressed in the MSM-treated group than those in HFFD rats. Moreover, the MSM extract exhibited a prominent selective inhibitory effect against intestinal lipase and α-amylase activities. The MSM extract was also able to protect the liver-kidney functions efficiently, which was evidenced by biochemicals and histological studies.

Phytoestrogens inhibit key-enzymes linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and liver-kidney toxicity in high fructose-fat diet in mice.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the administration of phytoestrogens on obesity, type 2 diabetes, and liver-kidney toxicity. Methods: Phytoestrogens (phyto(E2)) were administrated to high fructose-fat diet (HFFD). Results: This study showed that administration of phyto(E2) to HFFD-mice inhibited lipase activity by 34%, decreased body weight by 20% and modulated lipid profile, showed a decrease in total-cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) rates in the plasma by 59% and 42%, respectively, and increased the HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) level by 31%. In addition, the administration of phytoestrogens to HFFD-mice exerts an inhibitory effect on α-amylase activity and decreased glucose level by 28% and increase in liver glycogen level by 33%; and ameliorate oral glucose tolerance test. Conclusions: This study demonstrate that phyto(E2) has both a promising potential with regards to the inhibition of intestinal lipase and α-amylase activities, and a valuable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic function.

The cruciferous Diplotaxis simplex: Phytochemistry analysis and its protective effect on liver and kidney toxicities, and lipid profile disorders in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a prevalent systemic disease affecting an important proportion of the population worldwide. It has been suggested that excessive reactive oxygen species generation and therefore development of an oxidative stress status is a key factor leading to diabetic complications. Accordingly, it seems that medicinal plants can offer a wide range of new antidiabetic drugs. Diplotaxis simplex (Viv.) Spreng. (Brassicaceae) is an edible plant largely distributed in the Mediterranean region. D. simplex flowers display important in vitro antioxidant potential and inhibitory activity of the α-glucosidase, a key enzyme linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this paper, the antihyperglycemic potential of D. simplex flowers on diabetic rats were investigated. METHODS: Bioactive substances were determined by liquid chromatography-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS) analysis. Animals were divided into four groups of six rats each: a normal control group, a diabetic control group, a diabetic group receiving flowers extract (200 mg/kg body mass) and a diabetic group receiving acarbose (10 mg/kg body mass) as standard drug. RESULTS: Many glycosides of rhamnetin, isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol compounds were identified in the ethanolic flowers extract. Alloxan induced hyperglycemia, manifested by a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the blood glucose level as well as in serum α-amylase activity. Furthermore, diabetic rats exhibited oxidative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities and an increase in lipid peroxidation level of the pancreas, liver and kidneys. Interestingly, the oral administration of D. simplex flowers extract during 30 days restored the glycemia, α-amylase activity, serum lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the flowers extract exhibited a renal protective role by decreasing the urea and creatinine levels in diabetic rats serum. CONCLUSIONS: D. simplex flowers contained bioactive compounds that possess important antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties and protected pancreas, liver and kidneys against hyperglycemia damage.

Modulatory Effect of an Isolated Triglyceride from Fenugreek Seed Oil on of α-Amylase, Lipase and ACE Activities, Liver-Kidney Functions and Metabolic Disorders of Diabetic Rats.

This study was designed to examine physicochemical characteristics, chemical compositions and biological activities of fenugreek seed oil (FSO) and its pure triglyceride (TG). One fenugreek TG was purified using a bioassay-guided fractionation and administrated to surviving diabetic rats. The free fatty acids percentage as well as, the peroxide, the saponification and the iodine values were 2%, 12 mequiv. O2/kg of oil, 189 (mg KOH/g) and 110 (g/100 g of oil), respectively. Linolenic acid (C18:3 26.14%), Linoleic acid (C18:2 41.13%) and Oleic acid (C18:1 17.07%) were the dominant fatty acids in the FSO. ß-sitosterol was the major sterol (85.3%) in the FSO. LnLnO (17.1%), LLL (16.6%), OLL and OOLn (8.4%), were the abundant triglycerides. The hexane extract of fenugreek seed (exhibiting the powerful inhibitory activity against alpha-amylase) was purified using a bioassay-guided fractionation affording one fenugreek TG: (11Z)-11- eicosenoic acid 2, 3- bis[((9Z, 12Z, 15Z)-1-oxo-9, 12, 15-octadecatrien-1-yl)oxy] propyl ester. In diabetic rats, the administration of the fenugreek TG inhibited α-amylase activity in small intestine by 36% as compared to untreated diabetic rats. Moreover, fenugreek TG increased insulin sensibility which leads to decrease in blood glucose level by 43%. In addition, this study demonstrated that administration of pure fenugreek TG to diabetic rats ameliorated the glycogen rate in liver and muscle. In addition, the administration of fenugreek TG reverted back the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme respectively in kidney and plasma by 33 and 29%. Interestingly, the fenugreek TG inhibited lipase activity in small intestine by 33% which leads to the regulation of lipid profile. Moreover, the fenugreek TG protected liver-kidney function evidenced by histological study. In conclusion, our finding demonstrates that the administration of fenugreek TG to diabetic rats can make it a potential candidate for industrial application as a pharmacological agent for the treatment of hyperglycemia.

Inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid digestive enzymes activities byZygophyllum album extracts: effect on blood and pancreas inflammatory biomarkers in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Zygophyllum album has been used as herbal medicine in Southern Tunisia to treat several diseases such as diabetes mellitus. This study is aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the antihyperglycemic potential, the anti-inflammatory and the protective hematological proprieties of this plant in diabetic rats. The inhibition of the á-amylase activity by different solvent-extract fractions ofZ. album was tested in vitro. The fraction endowed with the powerful inhibitory activity against á-amylase was administered to surviving diabetic rats for 30 days. Data from in vitro indicated that each extract from the medicinal plant showed moderate inhibition of á-amylase enzyme except the ethyl acetate extract which was ineffective. The powerful inhibition was achieved by ethanol extract of Z. album (EZA) with an IC50 of 43.48 ìg/ml as compared to acarbose (Acar) with an IC50 of 14.88 ìg/ml. In vivo, the results showed that EZA decreased the á-amylase levels in serum, pancreas and intestine of diabetic rats by 40 %, 45 % and 46 %, respectively, associated with considerably reduction in blood glucose rate by 61 %. Moreover, the EZA helped to protect the structure and function of the â-cells. Interestingly, EZA had a potent anti-inflammatory effect which is manifested by decreases in CRP and TNF-á levels. Overall, a notable reduction in lipase activity both in serum and small intestine of treated diabetic rats resulted in the improvement of serum and liver lipids profile. Z. album showed a prominent antidiabetic effect via inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid digestive enzymes and ameliorated the inflammation and the disturbance of hematological biomarkers in diabetes

Inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid digestive enzymes activities by Zygophyllum album extracts: effect on blood and pancreas inflammatory biomarkers in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Zygophyllum album has been used as herbal medicine in Southern Tunisia to treat several diseases such as diabetes mellitus. This study is aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the antihyperglycemic potential, the anti-inflammatory and the protective hematological proprieties of this plant in diabetic rats. The inhibition of the α-amylase activity by different solvent-extract fractions of Z. album was tested in vitro. The fraction endowed with the powerful inhibitory activity against α-amylase was administered to surviving diabetic rats for 30 days. Data from in vitro indicated that each extract from the medicinal plant showed moderate inhibition of α-amylase enzyme except the ethyl acetate extract which was ineffective. The powerful inhibition was achieved by ethanol extract of Z. album (EZA) with an IC50 of 43.48 µg/ml as compared to acarbose (Acar) with an IC50 of 14.88 µg/ml. In vivo, the results showed that EZA decreased the α-amylase levels in serum, pancreas and intestine of diabetic rats by 40 %, 45 % and 46 %, respectively, associated with considerably reduction in blood glucose rate by 61 %. Moreover, the EZA helped to protect the structure and function of the ß-cells. Interestingly, EZA had a potent anti-inflammatory effect which is manifested by decreases in CRP and TNF-α levels. Overall, a notable reduction in lipase activity both in serum and small intestine of treated diabetic rats resulted in the improvement of serum and liver lipids profile. Z. album showed a prominent antidiabetic effect via inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid digestive enzymes and ameliorated the inflammation and the disturbance of hematological biomarkers in diabetes.

Antioxidant effect of nondigestible levan and its impact on cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.

Levan polysaccharide, a type of fructan, has been shown to favorably affect diabetes type 2 and hypercholesterolemia. Recent reports have indicated that excessive oxidative stress contributes to the development of atherosclerosis linked metabolic syndrome. The objective of this current study was to investigate the possible protection against oxidative stress linked atherosclerosis. A group of twenty four male rats was divided into four subgroups; a normal diet group (Control), normal rats received levan (L), a high-cholesterol diet group (Chol) and a high-cholesterol diet with 5% (w/w) levan group. After the treatment period, the plasma antioxidant enzymes and lipid profiles were determined. Our results show that treatment with levan positively changed plasma antioxidant enzyme activities by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) by 40% and 28%, respectively, in heart. Similarly, the treatment of Chol fed groups with levan positively changed lipid profiles by decreasing total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol by 50%, 38.33% and 64%, respectively. Thus may have potential antioxidant effects and could protect against oxidative stress linked atherosclerosis.

Inhibitory Activities of Zygophyllum album: A Natural Weight-Lowering Plant on Key Enzymes in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats.

Obesity is a serious health problem that increased risk for many complications, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The results showed EZA, which found rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds, exhibited an inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase in vitro with IC(50) of 91.07 µg/mL. In vivo administration of this extract to HFD-rats lowered body weight and serum leptin level; and inhibited lipase activity of obese rats by 37% leading to notable decrease of T-Ch, TGs and LDL-c levels accompanied with an increase in HDL-c concentration in serum and liver of EZA treated HFD-rats. Moreover, the findings revealed that EZA helped to protect liver tissue from the appearance of fatty cysts. Interestingly, supplementation of EZA modulated key enzyme related to hypertension such as ACE by 36% in serum of HFD animals and improve some of serum electrolytes such as Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). Moreover, EZA significantly protected the liver-kidney function by reverted back near to normal the values of the liver-kidney dysfunction indices AST&ALT, ALP, CPK and GGT activities, decreased T-Bili, creat, urea and uric acid rates. In conclusion, these results showed a strong antihypelipidemic effect of EZA which can delay the occurrence of dislipidemia and hypertension.

Hypoglycemic and antilipidemic properties of kombucha tea in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes has become a serious health problem and a major risk factor associated with troublesome health complications, such as metabolism disorders and liver-kidney dysfunctions. The inadequacies associated with conventional medicines have led to a determined search for alternative natural therapeutic agents. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the hypoglycemic and antilipidemic effects of kombucha and black tea, two natural drinks commonly consumed around the world, in surviving diabetic rats. METHODS: Alloxan diabetic rats were orally supplied with kombucha and black tea at a dose of 5 mL/kg body weight per day for 30 days, fasted overnight, and sacrificed on the 31st day of the experiment. Their bloods were collected and submitted to various biochemical measurements, including blood glucose, cholesterol, triglcerides, urea, creatinine, transaminases, transpeptidase, lipase, and amylase activities. Their pancreases were isolated and processed to measure lipase and α-amylase activities and to perform histological analysis. RESULTS: The findings revealed that, compared to black tea, kombucha tea was a better inhibitor of α-amylase and lipase activities in the plasma and pancreas and a better suppressor of increased blood glucose levels. Interestingly, kombucha was noted to induce a marked delay in the absorption of LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol. Histological analyses also showed that it exerted an ameliorative action on the pancreases and efficiently protected the liver-kidney functions of diabetic rats, evidenced by significant decreases in aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glytamyl transpeptidase activities in the plasma, as well as in the creatinine and urea contents. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that kombucha tea administration induced attractive curative effects on diabetic rats, particularly in terms of liver-kidney functions. Kombucha tea can, therefore, be considered as a potential strong candidate for future application as a functional supplement for the treatment and prevention of diabetes.

Hypolipidemic effect of diet supplementation with bacterial levan in cholesterol-fed rats.

Levan polysaccharide, a type of fructan, has been shown to have industrial applications as a new industrial gum in the fields of cosmetics, foods like dietary fiber and pharmaceutical goods. The objective of this current study was to investigate the possible hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of levan in rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet. Animals were allocated into four groups of six rats each: a normal diet group (Control), normal rats received levan (L), a high-cholesterol diet group (Chol) and a high-cholesterol diet with a daily dose of levan equivalent to 5%. Treated hypercholesterolemic rats were administrated with levan in drinking water through oral gavage for 60 days. After the treatment period, the plasma antioxidant enzymes and lipid profiles were determined. Our results show that treatment with levan polysaccharide positively changed plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides) in cholesterol-rats, and thus may have potential hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects. Levan could protect against oxidative stress linked atherosclerosis and decrease the atherogenic index.

Inhibitory potential of omega-3 fatty and fenugreek essential oil on key enzymes of carbohydrate-digestion and hypertension in diabetes rats.

BACKGROUND: diabetes is a serious health problem and a source of risk for numerous severe complications such as obesity and hypertension. Treatment of diabetes and its related diseases can be achieved by inhibiting key digestives enzymes-related to starch digestion secreted by pancreas. METHODS: The formulation omega-3 with fenugreek terpenenes was administrated to surviving diabetic rats. The inhibitory effects of this oil on rat pancreas α-amylase and maltase and plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were determined. RESULTS: the findings revealed that administration of formulation omega-3 with fenugreek terpenenes (Om3/terp) considerably inhibited key enzymes-related to diabetes such as α-amylase activity by 46 and 52% and maltase activity by 37 and 35% respectively in pancreas and plasma. Moreover, the findings revealed that this supplement helped protect the ß-Cells of the rats from death and damage. Interestingly, the formulation Om3/terp modulated key enzyme related to hypertension such as ACE by 37% in plasma and kidney. Moreover administration of fenugreek essential oil to surviving diabetic rats improved starch and glucose oral tolerance additively. Furthermore, the Om3/terp also decreased significantly the glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total-cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) rates in the plasma and liver of diabetic rats and increased the HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-Ch) level, which helped maintain the homeostasis of blood lipid. CONCLUSION: overall, the findings of the current study indicate that this formulation Om3/terp exhibit attractive properties and can, therefore, be considered for future application in the development of anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive and hypolipidemic foods.

In vivo prevention of bladder urotoxicity: purified hydroxytyrosol ameliorates urotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide and buthionine sulfoximine in mice.

Urotoxicity is a troublesome complication associated with cyclophosphamide (CP) and L-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO) treatment in chemotherapy. With this concern in mind, the present study investigated the potential effects of a hydroxytyrosol extract from olive mill waste (OMW) on urotoxicity induced by acute CP and BSO doses using a Swiss albino mouse model. Toxicity modulation was evaluated by measuring lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidants in urinary bladder. The findings revealed that the hydroxytyrosol extract exerted a protective effect not only on LPO but also on enzymatic antioxidants. When compared to the controls, the CP-treated animals underwent significant decreases in the glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GP), and catalase (CAT) activities. The level of glutathione (GSH) was also reduced with increased doses of LPO in the CP-treated animals. L-Buthionine-SR-sulfoximine treatment exerted an additive toxic effect on the CP-treated animals. Interestingly, pretreatment with the hydroxytyrosol extract restored the activities of all enzymes back to normal levels and exhibited an overall protective effect on the CP- and BSO-induced toxicities in urinary bladder. The restoration of GSH through the treatment with the hydroxytyrosol extract can play an important role in reversing CP-induced apoptosis and free radical-mediated LPO. 

Inhibitory effects of estrogens on digestive enzymes, insulin deficiency, and pancreas toxicity in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus, with its attendant disorders and dysfunctional behaviors, constitutes a growing concern to the population of the world. With this concern in mind, the present study investigated the anti-diabetic and hypolipedimic potential of 17ß-estradiol (called E2), particularly in terms of its inhibitory effects on maltase, sucrase, lactase, and lipase activities in the intestine of surviving diabetic rats. The findings revealed that this supplement helped protect the ß cells of the rats from death and damage. Interestingly, E2 induced considerable decreases of 29%, 46%, 42%, and 84% in the activities of intestinal maltase, lactase, sucrase, and lipase, respectively. The E2 extract also decreased the glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol rates in the plasma of diabetic rats by 39%, 27%, and 53%, respectively, and increased the HDL-cholesterol level by 74%, which helped maintain the homeostasis of blood lipid. When compared to those of the untreated diabetic rats, the superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels in the pancreas of the rats treated with this supplement were also enhanced by 330%, 170%, and 301%, respectively. A significant decrease was also observed in the lipid peroxidation level and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the pancreas of diabetic rats after E2 administration. Overall, the findings presented in this study demonstrate that E2 has both a promising potential with regard to the inhibition of intestinal maltase, sucrase, lactase, and lipase activities, and a valuable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic function, which make it a potential strong candidate for industrial application as apharmacological agent for the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.

Immunomodulatory, beta-cell, and neuroprotective actions of fenugreek oil from alloxan-induced diabetes.

Immunological disorders and nephropathy are among the most frequent and serious complications of diabetes mellitus. This shows that fewer infiltrated inflammatory cells evidenced by reverted back to near the normal value of white blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, and lymphocytes counts as interleukin-6 in pancreas. Also, fenugreek oil significantly improved blood glucose levels, glucose intolerance, and insulin sensitivity compared to the diabetic group. The pancreatic islet and less beta-cells damage were observed after the administration of fenugreek oil to diabetic rats. Moreover, diabetic rats showed low activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione content in kidney, which were restored to near normal levels by treatment with fenugreek oil. The increased levels of lipid peroxidation, creatinine, albumin, and urea in diabetic rats decreased significantly in diabetic rats treated with fenugreek oil. Diabetic rats treated with fenugreek oil restored almost a normal architecture of pancreas and kidney. In conclusion, this study reveals the efficacy of fenugreek oil in the amelioration of diabetes, hematological status, and renal toxicity which may be attributed to its immunomodulatory activity and insulin stimulation action along with its antioxidant potential.

Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of phenolic extracts and purified hydroxytyrosol from olive mill waste in vitro and in rats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of phenolic extract and purified hydroxytyrosol (HT) from olive mill waste (OMW) on oxidative stress and hyperglycemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The OMW biophenols were extracted using ethyl acetate. The obtained extract was fractionated by solid phase extraction (SPE) experimentation to generate two fractions: (F1) and (F2). HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS analysis showed that (F1) was made of known OMW monomeric phenolics mainly hydroxytyrosol (HT) while (F2) contained oligomeric and polymeric phenols such as verbascosid and ligstrosid. (HT) was purified from (F1) using silica gel-column chromatography and silica gel-TLC techniques. In incubated pancreas, supplementation of OMW fractions enhanced insulin secretion. The administration of OMW extract fractions (F1) and (F2) as well as purified (HT) in diabetic rats caused a decrease in glucose level in plasma and an increase in renal superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in liver and kidney. Furthermore, a protective action against hepatic and renal toxicity in diabetic rats was clearly observed. Furthermore, a significant decrease in hepatic and renal indices toxicity was observed, i.e. alkalines phosphatases (ALP), aspartate and lactate transaminases (AST and ALT) activities and the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs), total and direct bilirubin, creatinine and urea levels. In addition, (F1), (F2) and especially (HT) decreased triglycerides (TG), total-cholesterol (T-Ch) and higher HDL-cholesterol (HDL-Ch) in serum. These beneficial effects of OMW biophenols were confirmed by histological findings in hepatic, renal and pancreatic tissues of diabetic rats. This study demonstrates for the first time that OMW polyphenols and especially (HT) are efficient in inhibiting hyperglycemia and oxidative stress induced by diabetes and suggests that administration of HT may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress.

Inhibitory effect of estrogens, phytoestrogens, and caloric restriction on oxidative stress and hepato-toxicity in aged rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of 17beta-estradiol (E2), peganum harmala extract (PHE) administration and calorie restriction (CR) treatment (60%) on oxidative stress and hepato-toxicity in aged rats. METHODS: Eighteen months old animals that were treated at the age of 12 months were divided into 4 groups: normal control group with free access to food, E2 treatment group, PHE treatment group and CR treatment group of the food given to control group. Six male rats at the age of 4 months were used as a reference group. RESULTS: Aging significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and increased lactate deshydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glytamyl transferase (GGT), phosphatase alkalines (PAL), aspartate and lactate transaminase (AST and ALT) activities in the liver. Aging also induced an increased lipid peroxidation level, histological changes and a decreased E2 level. However, treatment with E2, PHE, and CR increased 17beta-estradiol, and decreased hepatic dysfunction parameters and lipid peroxidation as well as histological changes in the liver of aged rats. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of PHE and CR is possibly attributed to its ability to increase E2 level, which as an antioxidant, acts as a scavenger of ROS. Further studies on the pharmaceutical functions of E2 in males may contribute to its clinical application.

Protective effects of Peganum harmala extracts on thiourea-induced diseases in adult male rat.

Cancers and hepatoprotective prevention using traditional medicines have attracted increasing interest. The aim of our study was to characterize the putative protective effects of ethanol and chloroform extracts of Peganum harmala on thiourea-induced diseases in adult male rat. We seek to determine the effects of these plant extracts on body weight, thyroid and endocrine cancer parameters. In addition the putative hepatoprotective effect was checked by the determination of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and the bilirubin level in the blood. Our data show that ethanol and chloroform extracts of Peganum harmala protected the animal against the carcinogenic effects induced by thiourea since neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and thyroglobulin (TG) levels were back to the normal range. In addition, the observed-hepatocytotoxicity after thiourea treatment was greatly reduced (AST and ALT activities were respectively 270 IU/l and 60 IU/l and in the same order of magnitude as in the untreated rats) as well as the bilirubin levels (6 micromol/l) especially for animals receiving the choroform preparation. Therefore we may suggest that extracts of Peganum harmala are efficient to reduce the toxicity induced by thiourea in male rat as far as the above parameters are concerned.