Sourdough bread as nutritional intervention tool for improvement of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: The current research targeted to study the impact of nutritional intervention by two sourdough breads in improvement of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic rats. METHODS: Type-2 diabetes was induced in rats by Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide (STZ-NC). Diabetic rats were fed on balanced diet or balanced diet containing 20% of sourdough bread I or II for a month. Lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and cognitive functions were assessed in all rats. Gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF-2) were assessed in hippocampal tissue, while expression of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) genes were evaluated in hepatic tissue. Chemical composition and fatty acids profile were evaluated in the prepared sourdough bread. RESULTS: Sourdough bread II showed higher content of phenolic compounds, fat, fiber and carbohydrates. Fatty acids profile revealed that sourdough bread I was higher in saturated fatty acids (16.08%), while sourdough bread sample II was higher in unsaturated fatty acids (79.33%). Sourdough bread I or II feeding rats' showed significant improvement in hyperglycemia, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, lipid profile, liver and kidney functions in association with improvement in cognitive function. Gene expression of BDNF and NRF2 in hippocampal tissue were increased significantly, while hepatic GLUT2 and PEPCK gene expression were down-regulated in diabetic given sourdough bread I or II. CONCLUSION: Sourdough bread II was superior in all the studied parameters. The anti-diabetic effect and protection from cognitive dysfunction of sourdough bread samples may be ascribed to the occurrence of dietary fibers, phenolic compounds, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Characterization of stirred yoghurt enriched with probiotics and beetroot and its therapeutic potential in experimental type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type-2 diabetes is the most prevalent metabolic disease, which calls for researchers to find many natural products that are effective in fighting diabetes and its complications. METHODS: Stirred yoghurt samples were prepared, enriched with probiotics, and fortified with either 1% or 2% of the fine powder of beetroots. The chemical, physical, sensorial, and microbial properties of the yoghurt samples were studied over a 15-day storage period. The total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, antioxidant activity as well as the reducing power of the dried beetroot and the yoghurt samples were assessed.The prepared yoghurt samples were evaluated in type 2 diabetic rats. RESULTS: Fortification with beetroot led to an increase of the total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and the probiotic counts in the prepared yoghurt. The intervention with the prepared yoghurt samples resulted in an increase in the number of beneficial bacteria in diabetic rats’ feces, hypoglycemic effect, and suppression in the elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that stirred yoghurt enriched with probiotics and fortified with beetroot have therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes.

Fortified vegetarian milk for prevention of metabolic syndrome in rats: impact on hepatic and vascular complications.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized as a gathering of various metabolic disorders, for example, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and obesity. The present research was conducted to prepare fortified almond milk as functional beverages and evaluate their protective effect against MetS and associated hepatic and vascular complications. Three beverages (I, II, and III) were prepared by fortification almond milk with carrot juice or powder of quinoa seeds and carrot juice or oat powder and banana juice. The sensory attributes, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds (total phenolic, beta-carotene, tocopherols) and B-complex vitamins were determined in the beverages. In-vitro antioxidant activity of the beverages was assessed. MetS was induced in rats via feeding on high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHF). The biochemical (lipid profile, oxidative stress, liver, and kidney functions), nutritional and histopathological parameters were assessed in rats. The beverage I recorded the highest sensory attributes' scores. The physicochemical properties of the beverages revealed that acidity and viscosity of all beverages ranged from 4.55 to 4.88 and from 40 to 59, respectively. The beverage I showed the highest content of alpha-tocopherol (14.994 µg/g) and beta-carotene (104.541 µg/g), while the beverage II showed the highest content of gamma-tocopherol (0.557 µg/g), folic acid (0.806 µg/g), and total phenols (147.43 µg GAE/g). The results of animals revealed that the beverage II was the most promising in attenuation levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, malondialdehyde, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Also, the beverage II was the superior in the protection of the liver and heart tissues as reflected by the histopathological examination findings. So, it can be concluded that the newly prepared almond milk with quinoa seeds and carrot juice could be used as an effective functional beverage for the prevention of MetS and its complications.

Anti-inflammatory potential of chia seeds oil and mucilage against adjuvant-induced arthritis in obese and non-obese rats.

Background Natural anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals may be useful in suppressing the incessant aggravation of rheumatoid arthritis. Chia seeds as a natural source of antioxidants help prevent several oxidative stress-mediated diseases. The current study was focused on arthritis combined with obesity and evaluated the validation of oil and mucilage extracted from chia seeds as anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals in obese and non-obese adjuvant arthritic rat model. Methods Chia seeds oil was extracted by pressing method, whereas the mucilage was extracted using water (50 °C for 30 min). Oil and freeze-dried mucilage were tested for their anti-inflammatory effects using 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Obesity was developed in rats after 8 weeks of feeding on high-fat high-sucrose diet; on the first day of the ninth week, chia seeds oil and mucilage were administrated for 21 days, and arthritis was induced either in obese or non-obese rats via the injection with Freund's complete adjuvant. Swelling of the paw was then measured. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), lipid profile, liver and kidney functions, serum lipid peroxidation, and erythrocyte catalase activity were determined. Results Results emphasized that arthritis with obesity resulted in the elevation of the swelling of the paw, TNF-α, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress. Chia seeds oil and mucilage, more promisingly the oil, attenuated TNF-α and the swelling of the paw, improved lipid profile, and diminished the oxidative stress both in obese and non-obese arthritic rats. Conclusions Results showed that chia seeds oil and mucilage exhibited anti-inflammatory effects against adjuvant-induced arthritis in obese and non-obese rats.

In vitro Anticancer Activity of Quinoa and Safflower Seeds and Their Preventive Effects on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is not only the most common cause of liver diseases in humans but also it may complicate and become a risk factor for liver cancer. The present work aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity (in vitro) of quinoa and safflower seeds powder and their beneficial effects against NAFLD (in vivo). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proximate analysis, fatty acids profile, total phenolic and phytic acid of quinoa and safflower seeds were assessed. Also their anticancer activities (in vitro) against liver cancer were evaluated. The preventive effect of both seeds on NAFLD was evaluated using twenty four male rats. NAFLD was induced in rats by high fructose diet (HFD) for 4 weeks. The effects of HFD and HFD supplemented with 20% quinoa or safflower powder on plasma and liver lipids, lipid peroxidation, total protein, albumin as well as liver and kidney functions were determined. RESULTS: Quinoa seeds powder was promising in cytotoxicity against hepatocarcinoma cell line HEPG2 (IC50 was 14.6 µg). Feeding rats on HFD produced dyslipidemia and significant increase in liver functions and lipid peroxidation with significant elevation in liver triglycerides and total cholesterol. Quinoa and safflower seeds powder produced improvement in the biochemical parameters with different degrees. CONCLUSION: Quinoa and safflower seeds powder possessed cytotoxicity against hepatocarcinoma cell line HEPG2 and afford hepato-protection against NAFLD.

Comparative Study of Orange and its Main Bioactive Constituents as Remedy for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is accused as inducer of both cardiovascular and chronic liver diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of combined freeze dried orange juice with its dried pulp supplemented with methionine, as functional food, in comparison to orange bioactive constituents, as parallel formula, in NAFLD rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proximate composition, dietary fibers, minerals, total phenolics, fatty acids and phytosterols were determined in the orange functional food. The NAFLD was induced in rats through feeding high fructose diet. The prepared functional food and its parallel formula were evaluated in NAFLD rats through determination of liver fat and plasma lipid profile, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, leptin, insulin and glucose as well as liver and kidney function with histopathological examination of the liver. Insulin resistance (IR) and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol were calculated. RESULTS: Orange functional food was shown to contain 9.17% dietary fibers, 1.4% potassium, 1.4 phenolic content as mg gallic acid/g, oleic acid as the major fatty acid (29.75% of total fatty acids) and 11.97% phytosterols from unsaponifiable matter. The studied formulas produced reduction of liver and plasma lipids, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, IR and leptin with improving liver function and histopathology pointing to potential management of NAFLD. CONCLUSION: Orange functional food and its parallel formula were promising in management of NAFLD; with superiority to orange functional food. Phenolic compounds, dietary fibers, phytosterols and mono and poly-unsaturated fatty acids could be responsible to the bioactivity of orange formula.

Hepatic Regeneration and Reno-Protection by Fish oil, Nigella sativa Oil and Combined Fish Oil/Nigella sativa Volatiles in CCl4 Treated Rats.

The aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of fish oil, crude Nigella sative oil and combined fish oil/Nigella sative volatile oil as hepato-regenerative and renal protective supplements. The oils were administered as emulsions to rat model with liver injury induced by CCl4. Plasma activities of transaminases (AST and ALT) were evaluated as liver function indicators, while plasma creatinine and urea and creatinine clearance were determined as markers of kidney function. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were estimated to assess the exposure to oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation. Liver fat was extracted and their fatty acids´ methyl esters were determined using gas chromatography. Results showed that plasma activities of AST and ALT were significantly higher in CCl4 control group compared to control healthy group. Plasma levels of creatinine and urea increased significantly in CCl4 control, while creatinine clearance was reduced significantly in the same group. All rat treated groups given the three oil emulsions showed improvement in liver function pointing to the initiation of liver regeneration. The combination of fish oil/Nigella sative volatiles showed the most promising regenerative activity. Oxidative stress and inflammation which were increased significantly in CCl4 control group showed improvement on administration of the three different oil emulsions. Fatty acids methyl ester of liver fat revealed that rats treated with fish oil/Nigella sative volatile oil presented the highest content of unsaturated fatty acids (45.52% ± 0.81) while fish oil showed the highest saturated fatty acids (53.28% ± 1.68). Conclusion; Oral administration of oil emulsions of native fish oil, Nigella sative crude oil and combined fish oil/Nigella sative volatile oil reduced liver and kidney injury in rat model of CCl4 through exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Fish oil/Nigella sative volatile oil emulsion was the most promising hepato-regenerative and reno-protective formula among the different groups.

Prevention of renal dysfunction by nutraceuticals prepared from oil rich plant foods.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of extracts prepared from avocado, walnut, flaxseed and Eruca sativa seeds in a rat model of kidney dysfunction induced by intraperitoneal cisplatin. METHODS: Ethanol and petroleum ether extracts mixture was prepared from each plant. Six groups of rats were conducted; control healthy, cisplatin group and four test groups where rats were given daily oral dose of each extract mixture before cisplatin injection. Different biochemical and cytogenetic parameters and kidney histopathology were determined. Acute toxicity was tested for the nutraceuticals. Total phenolic contents, fatty acids (FA) and unsaponifiable matter were assessed in the extracts. RESULTS: Walnut ethanol extract showed the highest content of total phenolic. FA analysis revealed that all the studied plants were rich in unsaturated FA. Gas-liquid chromatographic investigation of the unsaponifiable matter showed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol in all the studied plants. Cisplatin treatment induced significant increase in plasma urea, creatinine and malondialdehyde along with significant reduction of plasma albumin, total protein, catalase and total antioxidant as well as reduction in creatinine clearance. Histopathological examination proved the induction of kidney dysfunction. Some sorts of chromosomal aberration and sperm-shape abnormalities were noticed after cisplatin treatment. Administration of extracts mixtures produced improvements in biochemical, histopathological and cytogenetic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of the studied nutraceuticals proved to possess protective role against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, chromosomal aberration and abnormal sperms. All studied nutraceuticals showed complete safety.

Protective effect of clove oil and eugenol microemulsions on fatty liver and dyslipidemia as components of metabolic syndrome.

In the present research, the effect of clove essential oil (CO) and its major constituent, eugenol, formulated in water-based microemulsions, was studied on fatty liver and dyslipidemia in high-fructose-fed rats. Plasma and liver lipids, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarker, and liver function were the assessed criteria. CO dispersed in water as conventional cloudy emulsion was also subjected to the same biological evaluations for comparison with the microemulsified form of this oil. Results showed that the particle size of CO microemulsion (COM) and eugenol microemulsion (EM) was 8.0 nm and 8.9 nm, respectively. Excess dilution and incubation of these microemulsions in 1.2 N HCl, that mimic stomach juice (without lipase), for 5 hours at 37 °C lead to the establishment of second population of larger particles with average diameter>100.0 nm. Biological evaluation revealed that rats of high fructose control group exhibited significant dyslipidemia, high plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, and elevated malondialdehyde. The same group of rats showed significant high liver total fat, triglycerides and cholesterol, and liver dysfunction compared to control normal rats fed balanced diet. Daily oral administration of CO conventional emulsion, COM, and EM produced significant improvement of all studied parameters. No significant change in all biochemical parameters was noticed when the groups given the different formulations were compared with each other. The study concluded that administration of CO conventional emulsion, COM, or EM produced significant improvement in fatty liver and dyslipidemia with consequent expected protection from cardiovascular diseases and other complications of fatty liver. Formulation of CO in microemulsion having particle size ∼ 8.0 nm did not enhance the protective effect compared with the same dose of CO dispersed in water as conventional macroemulsion, probably due to the ease of absorption of these bioactives in their native states. However, formulation in microemulsion provides a delivery system for oral administration of CO or eugenol in homogeneous, water-based, and thermodynamically stable dosage form during storage.

Which exposure stage (gestation or lactation) is more vulnerable to atrazine toxicity? Studies on mouse dams and their pups.

Either during gestation or lactation, the experimental mouse dams received one of the following treatments: (a) diet free of pesticide; (b) diet enriched with atrazine (ATZ); 31.0 µg kg-1; (c) diet free of pesticide + oral vitamin E (α-tocopherol; 200 mg kg-1 per mouse); and (d) diet enriched with ATZ (31.0 µg kg-1) + oral vitamin E (200 mg kg-1 per mouse). At the weaning, pups and dams were killed and selected organs and blood samples were collected for analyses. Compared with the control results, ATZ induced alteration in a number of biochemical and histopathological parameters either in the dams or their offspring. The ameliorative effect of vitamin E, based on estimating the "Ameliorative Index; AI" to malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) ranged between 0.95 and 1.06 (≈1.0) for the dams and the pups either in gestational or lactational exposure routes. In general, the mouse pups were more vulnerable to ATZ toxicity than their mothers and exposure during gestation was suggested to be more effective than during lactation. The findings may support the need to further investigating the adverse effects of exposure to low doses of commonly used pesticides, especially during pregnancy and breast-feeding as well as effects on newborn child.