ABSTRACT
This study was aimed at determining the effects of dietary supplementation with thyme essential oil (TEO) and rosemary essential oil (REO) on blood parameters, the anti-oxidant metabolism in the liver, breast and drumstick muscle tissues, the morphology of the small intestine, and the myofibril structure of the superficial pectoral and biceps femoris muscles. For this purpose, 400 three-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were used. Five groups, each comprising 80 broilers, were established. The control group was fed on a basal diet alone and groups thyme-1, thyme-2, rosemary-1 and rosemary-2 received basal diets supplemented with 0.15 g kg-1 of TEO, 0.30 g kg-1 of TEO, 0.10 g kg-1 of REO and 0.20 g kg-1 of REO, respectively. The serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were decreased significantly in group thyme-1. Dietary TEO and REO significantly increased glutathione levels in all tissues. Drumstick catalase activity was significantly increased in groups thyme-1, thyme-2 and rosemary-2. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly increased in the breast muscle of all groups that received dietary TEO and REO. Histomorphometrical analyses demonstrated that dietary supplementation with TEO and REO increased both crypt depth and villus height in the small intestine. In result, the tested doses of dietary TEO and REO were ascertained to improve the intestinal morphology and to increase the anti-oxidant metabolism mainly in the breast muscle, the drumstick muscle and liver.
ABSTRACT
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the etiology of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage. This study investigated ascorbic acid (vitamin C)'s protective effects against oxidative gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant because it can donate a hydrogen atom and form a relatively stable ascorbyl free radical. We have investigated alterations in the levels of myeloperoxidase, antioxidant system enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), lipid peroxidation and glutathione, as markers for ulceration process following oral administration of ascorbic acid, famotidine, lansoprazole, and ranitidine in rats with indomethacin-induced ulcers. In the present study, we found that (1) ascorbic acid, famotidine, lansoprazole and ranitidine reduced the development of indomethacin-induced gastric damages; (2) the administration of indomethacin caused a significant decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione, and an increase in the lipid peroxidation level; (3) the administration of ascorbic acid reversed the trend, inducing a significant increase of these enzymes' levels and a reduction in lipid peroxidation level in tissues; and (4) catalase, glutathione reductase and myeloperoxidase activities, increased by indomethacin, were found to be lower in the ascorbic acid, famotidine, lansoprazole and ranitidine-treated groups. The results indicate that the gastroprotective properties of ascorbic acid could be related to its positive effects on the antioxidant system and myeloperoxidase activity in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
