Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Crataegus songarica methanol extract.

The protective activity of the methanolic extract of the Crataegus songarica leaves was investigated against CCl4- and paracetamol-induced liver damage. On folklore levels, this plant is popularly used to treat various toxicological diseases. We evaluated both in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity of C. songarica. At higher concentration of plant extract (700 µg/ml), 88.106% inhibition on DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed and reducing power of extract was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. We also observed its inhibition on Fe2+/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation on rat liver microsomes in vitro. In addition, C. songarica extract exhibited antioxidant effects on calf thymus DNA damage induced by Fenton reaction. Hepatotoxicity was induced by challenging the animals with CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight, i.p.) and paracetamol (500 mg/kg body weight) and the extract was administered at three concentrations (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight). Hepatoprotection was evaluated by determining the activities of liver function marker enzymes and antioxidant status of liver. Administration of CCl4 elevated the levels of liver function enzymes, SGOT, SGPT, and LDH. We also observed a dramatic increase in ALT, AST, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase levels in rats administered 500 mg/kg body weight of paracetamol. Decreased antioxidant defense system as glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in rats treated with CCl4 and paracetamol. Pretreatment with the extract decreased the elevated serum GOT, GPT, LDH, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase activities and increased the antioxidant enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, C. songarica methanol extract may be an effective hepatic protective agent and viable candidate for treating hepatic disorders and other oxidative stress-related diseases.

Soil-transmitted helminths in relation to hemoglobin status among school children of the Kashmir Valley.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) remain a major threat to the health of children throughout the world, mostly in developing nations. The aim of the present study was to determine any relationship between STHs and hemoglobin status in school children of Kashmir Valley (India). Stool and blood samples were collected from 382 male and female school children in the age group of 5-15 yr from all 6 school districts of the Kashmir Valley. Finger-prick blood samples were used to collect the hemoglobin, which was then measured on-site by Sahli's acid hematin method; stool samples were processed using both simple smear and zinc sulphate concentration methods. Of the 382 children surveyed, 299 (78.27%) were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, or both. Children infected by STHs were found to have lower mean values of hemoglobin than uninfected children. The present study reveals that STHs are abundant among school children of Kashmir Valley, creating a negative effect on the hemoglobin values and indicating the necessity of implementing control measures.