Early-induced diabetic obese rat MACAPOS 2.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by an abnormally high blood glucose level. Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance are two characteristics that promote the onset and development of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to create a diabetic rat model from obese rat MACAPOS 2. METHODS: A group of rats was subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) compared to a control group (NC) which received a normal diet. After 16 weeks of HFD, Lee index was calculated, obese rats were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). One group of HFD rats (HFDZ) received streptozotocin 22.5 mg/kg (iv). One week later, weight gain, water and food intakes, urine volume and fasting blood glucose levels were evaluated. Animals were also subjected to glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests. RESULTS: After 16 weeks of HFD, rats became obese, glucose intolerant and resistant to insulin. The body weight of rats was significantly high (+ 26.23%) compared to normal rats, glycemia remained significantly high (+ 45.46%, P < 0.01) two hours after administration of glucose in high-fat diet rats, water intake and urine volume were comparable to those of NC. In HFD, the streptozotocin injected after one week (HFDZ), amplified glucose intolerance. During ITT, glycemia remained significantly (P < 0.01) high from 15 min; and did not vary during the 60 min of ITT. The fasting glycemia one week after streptozotocin injection was significantly high (288 mg/dL) compared to HFD (114 mg/dL), associated whit a significant (P < 0.01) increase in water intake and 24 h urine volume. CONCLUSION: These results showed that MACAPOS 2 associated with a low dose of streptozotocin (22.5 mg/dL) early leads to the diabetes in obese albinos Wistar rats and could be a real model to study the type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Anxiolytic and anti-colitis effects of Moringa oleifera leaf-aqueous extract on acetic acid-induced colon inflammation in rat.

Moringa oleifera decoction is believed to alleviate gastrointestinal tract diseases. This study investigated antioxidant and anxiolytic activities of its leaves aqueous extract on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Rats (36) were randomly divided into six groups and received (20 days) distilled water, 10 mL/kg; Moringa oleifera leaf-aqueous extract (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or Loperamide (5 mg/kg). On days 1, 8, 17, and 20, behavioral parameters were evaluated. Colitis was induced (day 15, except in normal group) through acetic acid (4%, 1 mL) intra-rectal administration. After sacrifice (day 21), lesion number, weight/length ratio of the colon were recorded. Oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. On day 20, Moringa oleifera (100 mg/kg) reduced the number of head dipping and the duration in opened arms, respectively 2.00 ± 0.37 and 5.00 ± 0.37 s against 14.50 ± 0.72 and 2.17 ± 0.48 s in the control. It decreased colon weight/length ratio: 112.29 ± 9.46 against 185.93 ± 5.28 mg/cm in the control; malondialdehyde level (P < 0.01) and nitric oxide concentration (P < 0.001), in the brain: respectively 25.60 ± 0.60 and 36.34 ± 1.19 against 34.00 ± 0.33 and 46.17 ± 3.25 µmol/mg of tissue in the control. In the serum, the extract (50 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the catalase activity (0.10 ± 0.00 against 0.03 ± 0.00 µmol/mg of protein in the negative control group). At 100 mg/kg, it increased (P < 0.001) reduced glutathione concentration to 5.07 ± 0.31 against 3.26 ± 0.08 µmol/mg of protein in the negative control group. The improvement on colitis pathophysiology, the antioxidant and the anxiolytic effects noted therefore suggest that Moringa oleifera can be a potential source of drugs alleviating anxiety and oxidative stress associated to ulcerative colitis.

Effects of hydro-ethanolic extract of leaves of Maesa lanceolata (Mursinaceae) on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by acute and chronic inflammation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of hydroethanolic extract of Maesa lanceolata leaves on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Colitis was induced by rectal administration of 1 mL of acetic acid (4%) in 25 male rats except the normal control group which received distilled water after 18 h of fasting followed by Ketamine (50 mg/kg)/Valium (10 mg/kg) anesthesia. Five hours later, the normal control and the negative control received distilled water, the positive control received prednisolone (5 mg/kg) and the three test groups received extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bw for eight days. During treatment, rectal temperature, the number and quality of the stools, and changes in body weight were assessed. At the end of the treatment, the animals were sacrificed, blood, colon, liver and spleen were collected for evaluation of hematological, inflammatory, antioxidant and histological parameters. Rectal temperature and the number of diarrheal, mucus and bloody stools were significantly reduced (P < 0.01) during treatment in the test and positive control groups with an increase in body weight change. The extract significantly (P < 0.01) reduced myeloperoxidase, TNF-α, interleukin 6, NO and MDA levels and significantly (P < 0.01) increased SOD levels, of GSH and catalase activity in the colon and blood. This extract also increased (P < 0.01) levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total white blood cells and blood platelets, prevented leukocyte infiltration in the liver and colon.

Anti-Shigellosis Activity of Cola anomala Water/Ethanol Pods Extract on Shigella flexneri-Induced Diarrhea in Rats.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the activities of water/ethanol Cola anomala pods extract. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method; the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by agar dilution technique. In vivo, shigellosis was induced in healthy Wistar albino rats by oral administration of Shigella flexneri inoculum, 12 × 108 CFU/mL. At the onset of diarrhea, infected and normal control animals were subdivided into various groups treated with distilled water, with water/ethanol Cola anomala pods extract at 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, or with ciprofloxacin, 2.5 mg/kg. After one-week treatment, rats were sacrificed, and blood and colon were collected. Blood was used for blood cell count. A portion of the colon served for histological studies while homogenate from the remaining part was centrifuged and the supernatant was collected for the determination of NO, PGE2, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels. In vitro, water/ethanol Cola anomala pods extract showed to be bactericidal, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.0 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 3.0 mg/mL. In diarrheic rats, the extract significantly (P < 0.01) increased the white blood cells and significantly (P < 0.01) decreased stool Shigella density from the first to the seventh day of treatment. It partially restored the structure of eroded intestine epithelium and prevented weight loss; the dose dependently and significantly (P < 0.001) decreased NO, IL-1ß, and TNF-α production in the colon and was found to have no significant effect on PGE2 production. These results support the use of this plant in traditional medicine in the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments.

Antioxidant activity of dichloromethane fraction of Dichrocephala integrifolia in Salmonella typhi-infected rats.

OBJECTIVE: Infectious diseases such as typhoid fever lead to the formation of free radicals which can damage the body. Many medicinal plants have antioxidant molecules that neutralize free radicals. The present work evaluated the antioxidant activity and histopathological effects of the dichloromethane fraction of Dichrocephala integrifolia in Salmonella typhi-infected rats. METHODS: The S. typhi-infected rats concurrently received daily doses of D. integrifolia extract at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight or ciprofloxacin (5 mg/kg body weight) for 15 days. Body temperature was measured daily during infection and treatment periods. At the end of treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and biological responses including hematological parameters, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and glutathione, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations were evaluated. RESULTS: The elevated body temperature induced by infection was significantly decreased in animals treated with 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg of the extract. Platelet levels decreased slightly in infected rats, while treatment with the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia significantly increased platelet levels; this response was greater than that elicited by ciprofloxacin. The doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg of the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia notably decreased monocyte and neutrophil values. Activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase and levels of glutathione in the tissues of treated animals were increased significantly (P < 0.01), while malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), following treatment with the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia has protective effects against a series of pathological conditions initiated by oxidation and tissue damage in the course of a S. typhi infection.

Effects of Crinum jagus Water/Ethanol Extract on Shigella flexneri-Induced Diarrhea in Rats.

Diarrheal disease, characterized by the release of more than three loose or liquid stools per day, remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children below 5 years of age in developing countries. Many drugs used in diarrhea management face contraindication and, with regard to infectious diarrhea, resistance of some bacterial strains; this therefore increases the need of new alternative and more effective drugs. This study aimed to evaluate anti-Shigella flexneri activities of Crinum jagus water/ethanol extract. In vitro activities were assayed by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods and in vivo section on Shigella flexneri-induced diarrhea in rats. This was done by oral administration of 9 X 108 CFU of Shigella flexneri to rats that were treated twice daily with Crinum jagus water/ethanol extract for seven consecutive days. Ciprofloxacin was used as positive control. Daily Shigella flexneri load was evaluated. After one treatment week, animals were then sacrificed and interleukins (IL-2 and INF-γ), immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM), motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and ions (sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride) levels were determined. Also, blood cell count was realized. Crinum jagus water/ethanol extract dose-dependently inhibited Shigella flexneri growth with inhibition diameter of 18.90 and 25.36 mm, respectively, at 0.39 and 200 mg/mL. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.10 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 0.30 mg/mL with MBC/MIC ratio of 3.0. In Shigella flexneri-induced diarrheic rats, Crinum jagus reduced (p<0.01) diarrheal stools emission and Shigella load and lowered IL-2, INF-γ, IgA, IgM, and motilin blood levels, whereas it increased (p<0.01) vasoactive intestinal peptide, sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride blood levels. In diarrheal rats, Crinum jagus restored the decreasing white blood cells and haemoglobin and restored the damaged colon epithelium, where it reduced the density of mucus-filled goblet cells. These results confirm the use of Crinum jagus in ethnomedicine in diarrhea treatment.