Effect of combination of edible oils on blood pressure, lipid profile, lipid peroxidative markers, antioxidant status, and electrolytes in patients with hypertension on nifedipine treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of combination of edible oils on blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, lipid peroxidative markers, antioxidant status and electrolytes in drug (nifedipine) taking patients with hypertension. METHODS: In this study, patients were separated into 4 groups. Normal (n=14), hypertensive patients (n=38), 38 patients under medication with nifedipine were divided into 2 groups nifedipine control (n=12) and nifedipine + oil combination (sesame + sunflower oil) groups (n=26). Sesame and sunflower oil combination was supplied to patients and instructed to use it as the only oil source for 45 days. Blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were measured at baseline and after 45 days. Lipid peroxidative markers, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, lipid profile and electrolytes in blood were also measured. The study took place at Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, India between January 2005 and December 2008. RESULTS: Nifedipine and oil-mix consumed patients significantly decreased the blood pressure, lipid peroxidative markers, lipid profile excluding the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), sodium, chloride, and increased enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, HDL-C and potassium levels when compared to nifedipine alone treated hypertensive patients. CONCLUSION: Nifedipine and oil-mix provided good protection over blood pressure and lipid peroxidation, and brought enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, lipid profile, and electrolytes towards normalcy in hypertensive patients.

Influence of flavonoid-rich fraction from Spermacoce hispida seed on PPAR-alpha gene expression, antioxidant redox status, protein metabolism and marker enzymes in high-fat-diet fed STZ diabetic rats.

We investigated the influence of the flavonoid-rich fraction from Spermacoce hispida seed (S-Frf) on PPAR-alpha gene expression, plasma and erythrocyte antioxidants status, protein metabolism, and marker enzymes in diabetic hyperlipidemic rats. Hyperlipidemia was induced by feeding a 20% high fat diet (HFD) to male albino Wistar rats for 66 days. Diabetes was induced on the 17th day by a single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). When compared with diabetic hyperlipid-emic rats, plasma TBARS and LOOH levels decreased, the activities of enzymic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx) and plasma GSH levels increased in the S-Frf fed group. The activities of plasma hepatic markers serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, and levels of plasma urea, uric acid, creatinine, globulin, A/G ratio significantly decreased, whereas liver weight, total protein, and albumin increased. Oral administration of S-Frf up-regulates PPAR-alpha (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha) gene expression, activates fatty acid catabolism, and is involved in the control of lipoprotein assembly in liver. The results show that S-Frf has an antihyperlipidemic effect, improves antioxidant status, and alleviates liver and kidney damage associated with HFD-fed-STZ rats by up-regulating PPAR-alpha mRNA.

Influence of umbelliferone on membrane-bound ATPases in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The activities of membrane-bound ATPases are altered both in erythrocytes and tissues of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and diabetic patients. Umbelliferone (UMB), a natural antioxidant, is a benzopyrone occurring in nature, and it is present in the fruits of golden apple (Aegle marmelos Correa) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). Earlier we evaluated and reported the effect of UMB on plasma insulin and glucose, and this study was designed to evaluate the effect of umbelliferone on membrane-bound ATPases in erythrocytes and tissues (liver, kidney and heart) of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain, weighing 180-200 g, were made diabetic by an intraperitonial administration of STZ (40 mg/kg). Normal and diabetic rats were treated with UMB dissolved in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diabetic rats were also treated with glibenclamide as drug control, for 45 days. In our study, diabetic rats had increased level of blood glucose and lipid peroxidation markers, and decreased level of plasma insulin and decreased activities of total ATPases, (Na(+)+K(+))-ATPase, low affinity Ca(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase in erythrocytes and tissues. Restoration of plasma insulin and glucose by UMB and glibenclamide seemed to have reversed insulin, glucose and lipid peroxidation markers, and diabetes-induced alterations in the activities of membrane-bound ATPases. Thus, our results show that the normalization of membrane-bound ATPases in various tissues, is due to improved glycemic control and antioxidant activity by UMB.

Effect of Casearia esculenta root extract on blood glucose and plasma antioxidant status in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Our preliminary study shows that an oral administration of an aqueous extract of Casearia esculenta, an indigenous antidiabetic plant popularly used in South India for diabetes mellitus, lowers blood glucose level under normal and glucose load conditions, and in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. The study was further undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant potential of C. esculenta in STZ diabetic rats. Oral administration of C. esculenta root extract at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg for 45 days resulted in significant reduction in plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), hydroperoxide and ceruloplasmin and a significant elevation in plasma reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). The study indicates that C. esculenta root extract at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg restored all the antioxidant parameters to near normal value.