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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vanadyl sulfate supplementation on the skin tissues of diabetic and control rats. In this study, 6–6.5 months old male Swiss albino rats were used. The animals were randomly divided into the following four groups: group I, control (nondiabetic intact animals); group II, vanadyl sulfate control; group III, streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic animals and group IV, STZ-diabetic animals given vanadyl sulfate. The animals were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 65 mg/kg STZ in 0.01 M citrate buffer (pH = 4.5). From day 1 to day 60, 100 mg/kg vanadyl sulfate was given daily by gavage technique to one of the control and diabetic groups. Body weights and blood glucose levels were estimated on experimental days 0, 1 and 60. On the 60th day, skin tissue samples were taken, glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), nonenzymatic glycosylation (NEG) and protein levels, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined. Blood glucose, skin LPO and NEG levels increased, but skin GSH levels and CAT, SOD and GST activities decreased in the STZ group. Treatment with vanadyl sulfate reversed these effects. The present study showed that vanadyl sulfate exerted antioxidant properties and may prevent skin damage caused by diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, the effects of Melissa officinalis L. extract on hyperlipidemic rats were investigated, morphologically and biochemically. The animals were fed a lipogenic diet consisting of 2% cholesterol, 20% sunflower oil and 0.5% cholic acid added to normal chow and were given 3% ethanol for 42 days. The plant extract was given by gavage technique to rats to a dose of 2g/kg every day for 28, 14 days after experimental animals done hyperlipidemia. The degenerative changes were observed in hyperlipidemic rats, light and electron microscopically. There was a significant increase in the levels of serum cholesterol, total lipid, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a significant decrease in the levels of liver tissue glutathione (GSH), a significant increase in the levels of tissue lipid peroxidation (LPO) in this group. On the other hand, the administration of Melissa officinalis L. extract reduced total cholesterol, total lipid, ALT, AST and ALP levels in serum, and LPO levels in liver tissue, moreover increased glutathione levels in the tissue. As a result, it was suggested that Melissa officinalis L. extract exerted an hypolipidemic effect and showed a protective effect on the liver of hyperlipidemic rats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Metformin is a biguanide derivate used as an oral hypoglycaemic drug in diabetics. The aim of this study was to examine the histological and biochemical effects of metformin in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. The animals were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg STZ. Fourteen days later, metformin was given at 25 mg/kg by gavage, daily for 28 days, to STZdiabetic rats and a control group. In the STZ-diabetic group, some degenerative changes were observed by light microscopic examination. But the degenerative changes were decreased in the STZ-diabetic group given metformin. In the STZ-diabetic group, blood glucose levels, serum alanine and aspartate transaminase (ALT and AST) activities, total lipid levels, and sodium and potassium levels increased, while body weight, serum magnesium levels and liver glutathione (GSH) levels decreased. In the STZ-diabetic group given metformin, blood glucose levels, serum ALT and AST activities, total lipid, and sodium and potassium levels decreased, and liver GSH and serum magnesium levels increased. As a result of all the morphological and biochemical findings obtained, it was concluded that metformin has a protective effect against the hepatotoxicity produced by STZ diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Moringa is used for management of degenerative diseases. • Its antiglycation and enzyme inhibitory effects were assessed. • It potential as antidiabetic agent was observed. Moringa oleifera is a source of food, shelter and traditional medicine for many people in developing countries. It is an exceptional source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, lipids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols and phenolics. Owing to its diverse nutritional and phytochemical composition, it is widely consumed and used in therapeutics. In this study, the aqueous, methanol, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of M. oleifera seeds, leaves and roots were assessed for in vitro α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glucose-induced bovine serum albumin glycation inhibition. Findings indicate that methanol and hexane leaves extracts demonstrated highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 8.217 and 9.397 mg/ml respectively), though the activities were lower than that of acarbose (IC 50 = 0.036 mg/ml). In contrast, hexane root extract exhibited optimal α-glucosidase inhibition and antiglycation effect (IC 50 = 0.382 and 0.772 mg/ml, respectively). The extract activity was higher than that of acarbose (IC 50 = 0.884 mg/ml), but lesser than rutin (IC 50 = 0.199 mg/ml); which were the control for α-glucosidase inhibition and antiglycation studies respectively. In conclusion, suggesting its potentials in regulating postprandial blood glucose, and attenuating the production/accumulation of advanced glycation end product. Thus, M. oleifera extracts exhibited promising antidiabetic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma radiation, an ionising radiation, impairs the reproductive potential. Chloroquine is a class of antimalarial drugs currently used for the treatment of various diseases including cancer and viral infections and is a late autophagy inhibitor. It is known that apocynin has a vital role in reducing oxidative stress. We aim to evaluate the damage caused by radiation and chloroquine on testicular tissue and determine the effects of apocynin administration on male reproductive capacity as a protective factor to reduce or prevent damage histopathologically and biochemically. Male rats (n = 56) were divided into 8 groups. Control, chloroquine, apocynin, radiation, chloroquine + apocynin, chloroquine + radiation, apocynin + radiation, chloroquine + apocynin + radiation. The rats were sacrificed, testicular tissues and blood samples were collected for histological and biochemical examinations. In the radiation and chloroquine groups, enlargement of the intercellular spaces, and morphological damage parameters were observed in the testis tissues. Histological findings were reversed in the apocynin treated groups. Biochemical parameters revealed that damage occurred in the groups given chloroquine and radiation. The damages were reversed or attenuated by the administration of apocynin to the groups. It was concluded that apocynin plays a protective/therapeutic role by reducing histological and biochemical damage, as well as regulates oxidant/antioxidant balance in testicular tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valproic acid (2-propyl-pentanoic acid, VPA) is the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drug due to its ability to treat a broad spectrum of seizure types. VPA exhibits various side effects such as organ toxicity, teratogenicity, and visual disturbances. S-Methylmethioninesulfonium is a derivative of the amino acid methionine and it is widely referred to as vitamin U (Vit U). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Vit U on lens damage parameters of rats exposed to VPA. Female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group I comprised control animals. Group II included control rats supplemented with Vit U (50 mg/kg/day) for 15 days. Group III was given only VPA (500 mg/kg/day) for 15 days. Group IV was given VPA + Vit U (in same dose and time). Vit U was given to rats by gavage and VPA was given intraperitoneally. On the 16th day of experiment, all the animals which were fasted overnight were killed. Lens was taken from animals, homogenized in 0.9% saline to make up to 10% (w/v) homogenate. The homogenates were used for protein, glutathione, lipid peroxidation levels, and antioxidant enzymes activities. Lens lipid peroxidation levels and aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in VPA group. On the other hand, glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and paraoxonase activities were decreased in VPA groups. Treatment with Vit U reversed these effects. This study showed that Vit U exerted antioxidant properties and may prevent lens damage caused by VPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium (Se) on the skin tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Swiss albino rats were divided into four groups: control, control + antioxidants, diabetic, diabetic + antioxidants groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin. Vitamin C (250 mg/kg), vitamin E (250 mg/kg) and Se (0.2 mg/kg) were given by gavage technique to rats of one diabetic and one control group for 30 days. In the diabetic group, the levels of serum urea and creatinine, skin lipid peroxidation and nonenzymatic glycosylation levels increased, but skin glutathione levels decreased. Treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E and Se reversed these effects. The present study showed that vitamin C, vitamin E and Se exerted antioxidant effects and consequently may prevent skin damage caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Smilax excelsa L. leaves are used widely in the Black Sea region of Turkey for consumption in the daily diet and in folk medicine for their medicinal properties. In the present study, different antioxidant tests were employed in order to evaluate the antioxidant activities of water, infusion, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of S. excelsa leaves. In addition, the results were compared with natural and synthetic antioxidants. The levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids and anthocyanins of the extracts were also determined. The extracts were found to have different levels of antioxidant properties in the test models used. All extracts had good total phenolic and flavonoid contents, inhibited lipid peroxidation, showed radical scavenging and iron-chelating activities. Therefore, the leaves of the plant could be considered as a significant natural antioxidant source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The antioxidant activities of the infusion and aqueous extracts of purslane (Portulaca oleracea subsp. sativa L.) were investigated. Different antioxidant tests were employed, namely reducing power, total antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal chelating activities and β-carotene bleaching effect. In addition, the results were compared with natural and synthetic antioxidants, e.g. β-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole. The levels of anthocyanins, total flavonoids and total phenolics of the extracts were also determined. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the infusion were found to be higher than those of the aqueous extract. Infusion of purslane exhibited a strong Fe2+ chelating effect, free radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract increased with increased concentrations, in the range of 20-100 µg/mL. The aqueous extract also exhibited a strong superoxide radical scavenging activity. This study showed that purslane extracts exhibited antioxidant activity in all tests and the extracts could be considered as a source of natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, both diabetes and Dunning prostate cancer were induced for the first time in Copenhagen rats in vivo. Thus, the effects of metformin against heart tissue damage of these rats were investigated by biochemical methods. Dunning prostate cancer was induced in Copenhagen rats using high metastatic MAT-LyLu cells. The rats were divided as follows: Control group: only injected with 0.9% NaCl for 14 days; Diabetic group: only injected single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg); Cancer group: subcutaneously (s.c) inoculated with 2 x 104 MAT-LyLu cells only; Diabetic + cancer (DC) group: inoculated with 2 x 104 MAT-LyLu cells and STZ injection, Cancer + metformin (CM) group: injected with metformin for 14 days after Mat-LyLu cells application; Diabetic + cancer + metformin (DCM) group: metformin administered for 14 days together with STZ and Mat-LyLu cells. At the end of the experimental period, heart tissues were taken. Reduced glutathione and total antioxidant status levels in heart tissues were decreased, whereas lipid peroxidation, advanced oxidized protein products, nitric oxide, homocysteine, and reactive oxygen species levels, total oxidant status and catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase activities increased in the diabetic, cancer and DC groups. Treatment with metformin reversed these effects. In conclusion, the present study shows that metformin has a protective effect against heart tissue damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats with Dunning prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galectin-1 is an important mediator that regulates the T-cell-mediated immune response. It has many other biological functions such as cell growth, immunomodulation, and wound healing. The aim of this study was to reveal the role of galectin-1 on liver morphology, cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress, and antioxidant system in colitis-mediated hepatotoxicity induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). In the present study, adult mice were divided into four groups: The control group intraperitoneally injected with phosphate buffer saline (I), the group which was orally administered with DSS (II), the control group which was injected with galectin-1 (III), and the group which was given DSS and galectin-1 (IV). DSS administration caused degenerative changes and diffuse necrotic damage, an increase in caspase-3 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression, the levels of lipid peroxidation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, lactate dehydrogenase, and myeloperoxidase activities, and a decrease in cell proliferation, interleukin-10 levels, and antioxidant system parameters in liver tissues. Treatment of DSS group with galectin-1 reversed these effects and prevented liver damage. This study showed that galectin-1 has proliferative, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects against DSS-induced liver injury in mice. It is expected considering all results of this study that galectin-1 may be useful as a protective agent against liver toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valproic acid (VPA) is a drug used for the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar psychiatric disorders, and migraine. Previous studies have reported an increased generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in the toxic mechanism of VPA. Edaravone, a free radical scavenger for clinical use, can quench free radical reaction by trapping a variety of free radical species. In this study, effect of edaravone on some small intestine biochemical parameters in VPA-induced toxicity was investigated. Thirty seven Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly divided into four groups. The groups include control group, edaravone (30 mg–1 kg–1 day–1) given group, VPA (0.5 g–1 kg–1 day–1) given group, VPA + edaravone (in same dose) given group. Edaravone and VPA were given intraperitoneally for 7 days. Biochemical parameters such as malondialdehyde, as an index of lipid peroxidation(LPO), sialic acid (SA), glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, myeloperoxidase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and tissue factor (TF) activities were determined in small intestine samples by colorimetric methods. Decreased small intestine antioxidant enzyme activities, increased LPO and SA levels, and increased activities of ALP and TF were detected in the VPA group. Based on our results edaravone may be suggested to reverse the oxidative stress and inflammation due to VPA-induced small intestine toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Water, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts from stems with leaves and flowers of Amaranthus lividus L., one of the most popular leafy vegetable consumed in the west Black Sea region of Turkey, were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit peroxidation of phosphatidylcholine liposomes induced with Fe3+/ascorbate, to scavenge ABTS +, DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, to reduce Fe (III) to Fe (II) and to chelate Fe (II) ions. The results showed that amaranth vegetable contained naturally occuring antioxidant components and possessed antioxidant activity which may be attributed to its lipid peroxidation inhibitory, radical scavenging and metal chelating activities. The antioxidant activities of the water and ethyl acetate extracts were not concomitant with the development of their reducing power. It was concluded that A. lividus might be a potential source of antioxidants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, the effect of a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium on ethanol-induced duodenal mucosal damage in rats was investigated morphologically and biochemically. The duodenal mucosal injury was produced by oral administration of 1 mL of absolute ethanol to each rat. Animals received vitamin C (250 mg/ kg), vitamin E (250 mg/kg) and selenium (0.5 mg/kg) for 3 days and absolute ethanol 1 hour after last antioxidant administration and were sacrificed 1 hour after absolute ethanol. Extreme degeneration in intestinal mucosa of rats given ethanol was observed morphologically. In addition, an increase in neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive areas was observed in the rats of the group given ethanol. On the other hand, a normal morphological appearance and a decrease in neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive areas were de- tected in the rats given ethanol + vitamin C + vitamin E + selenium. In the group to which ethanol was administered, an increase in serum cholesterol and a decrease in serum albumin levels were determined. On the other hand, in the group to which ethanol + vitamin C + vitamin E + selenium were administered, serum cholesterol value decreased, and the serum albumin level increased. As a result, we can say that the combination of vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium has a protective effect on ethanolinduced duodenal mucosal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]