Comparison between the Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity of Fenugreek and Buckthorn in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats.

This study is aimed at comparing the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of fenugreek and buckthorn which are commonly used in modulating diabetes in the Middle East. In this study, the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extracts of the leaf and seed of fenugreek and buckthorn was tested in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats fed with a fat-rich diet for 8 weeks. Thirty-six male albino rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 6); the 1st group was the negative control. Diabetes was induced in the other 30 rats using streptozotocin, which were then divided into 5 groups; the 2nd was the untreated positive diabetic group, the 3rd was treated with fenugreek leaf aqueous extract, the 4th was treated with the fenugreek seed aqueous extract, the 5th was treated with buckthorn leaf aqueous extract, and the 6th was treated with buckthorn seed aqueous extract. The positive control group showed an increase in blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, liver function enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, kidney indices, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low- and very-low-density lipoprotein, immunoglobulins, and lipid peroxidation and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein, albumin, and antioxidant activity. The histology of the liver and testes showed severe histopathological alterations. Rats of groups 4-6 that were treated with the aqueous extract of the leaf and seed extract of fenugreek and buckthorn showed improvement of all biochemical and histopathological parameters. The seed extract of fenugreek and buckthorn showed more antioxidant activity than their leaves.

Honey attenuates the toxic effects of the low dose of tartrazine in male rats.

Honey is traditionally used in burns, wound healing, ulcers, boils, and fistulas. Honey was tested to prevent tartrazine toxicity in male rats for 8 weeks. The 18 rats of the experiment were randomly divided into three 6-rat groups. The negative control group (G1) fed diet with sulfanilic acid, the tartrazine positive group (G2) fed diet containing tartrazine and sulfanilic acid and the honey-treated group (G3) fed diet as in G2 and cotreated with honey. Tartrazine decreased antioxidants, high-density lipoproteins and proteins, and increased liver enzymes, kidney indices, lipid peroxidation, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low- and very-low-density lipoproteins. In addition, tartrazine-treated group showed drastic damage of the tissues of stomach, liver, kidney, and testis. Honey treatment increased antioxidants and high-density lipoproteins, and decreased lipid peroxidation, liver enzyme and kidney parameters. Honey treatment also improved stomach, liver, kidney, and testis tissues. In conclusion, honey protects male rats against tartrazine toxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Honey was tested to prevent tartrazine toxicity in male rats in an experiment conducted for 8 weeks. Catalase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reduced, the low- and high-density lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation, liver enzyme, and kidney parameters were measured to evaluate both the toxic effect of tartrazine in G2 and the protective potential of honey in G3.

The antibacterial activity of traditionally used Salvadora persica L. (miswak) and Commiphora gileadensis (palsam) in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays there is a need to find naturally occurring substances from plants with antimicrobial activity as an alternative to available used antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salvadora persica (miswak) and Commiphora gileadensis were collected, dried and extracted with either methanol or warm water and the obtained extracts were assessed for their antibacterial activity against 5 different genera of bacteria using agar well diffusion method. The tested bacteria included some human pathogens. RESULTS: The obtained extracts exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all the tested bacteria with various degrees of growth inhibition. It was shown that methanol extract was more effective compared to water extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the methanol extracts ranged from 50-100 °g/ml. No toxicity was found using Artimia salina as test organism and no antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. CONCLUSION: S. persica and C. gileadensis showed moderate to high inhibitory activity on pathogenic bacteria with no toxicity and can be used traditionally as alternative medicine.

Screening of the toxic effects of a high melamine dose on the biochemical hematological and histopathological investigations in male rats.

Screening of the toxic effect of a high oral melamine dose (30,000 ppm supplemented in the diet) was performed for 28 days on male rats. The morphology, anatomy, complete blood count (CBC), serum electrolytes, kidney function, serum proteins, serum bilirubin, serum liver enzymes, catalase, glutathion-S-transferase, lipid peroxide, serum melamine concentration, total body weight, food intake, food efficiency ratio (FER), body weight gain percentage (BWG%), body weight gain, water consumption, and histopathological examinations of kidney, urinary bladder, testis, liver, heart, and spleen were investigated. The melamine-supplemented rats turned yellow and showed different degrees of hypertrophy and congestion, particularly the kidney and the ureter as a result of melamine toxicity. The CBC showed minimal changes in the melamine-supplemented groups. Na and Cl were decreased, whereas K, P, and Ca were increased. Serum creatinine, uric acid, and urea were elevated. Liver function enzymes were nonsignificantly affected. Catalase and glutathion-S-transferase were decreased, whereas lipid peroxide was increased in the kidney tissue homogenate. It was also noted that serum protein was decreased and serum bilirubin was increased. Histopathologically, most examined organs were severely injured specially the kidneys, liver, and testes.