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The present investigation was an attempt to evaluate the hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of cumin (Cuminum cyminum family: Apiaceae) supplementation in high fat (HF) diet fed rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, such as control, control+ cumin, HF and HF+ cumin. Oral glucose tolerance test, plasma lipids, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant enzymes activities, and liver dysfunction marker enzyme activities were evaluated. Additionally, histological staining of liver tissue was performed to evaluate the inflammatory cells infiltration, iron deposition and fibrosis. The current investigation demonstrated that 1% (w/w) supplementation of cumin powder significantly reduced HF diet-induced glucose intolerance, epididymal and mesenteric fat wet weights and lipid parameters like triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins. Oxidative stress-related biomarkers including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO) and advanced oxidation protein product (APOP) were also reduced by cumin supplementation. Moreover, HF-diet increased the activity of hepatic biomarker enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities which were significantly reduced by cumin powder supplementation. On the other hand, cumin powder supplementation was able to restore the reduced glutathione level with parallel augmentation of the antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in liver of HF diet-fed rats. Additionally, histological assessments confirmed that cumin powder supplementation also normalized the fat droplet deposition and inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver of HF diet-fed rats. This study suggests that cumin powder supplementation ameliorates dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and hepatic damage in HF diet-fed rats.

Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R.Parker, locally known as Pithraj, is a medicinal herb having enormous traditional applications. However, the scientific rationale underlying the ethnomedicinal claims was not well-founded. The current investigation aimed to explore the mechanistic insights of protective effects of ethanol extract of A. polystachya leaf (PT), given orally, on the chemical-intoxicated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in Long-Evans female overiectomized rats. The GC-MS and HPLC-DAD analysis of PT revealed the presence of several bioactive metabolites, including polyphenolic compounds. Catechin hydrate, caffeic acid, syringic acid, epicatechin and p-coumaric acid have been identified and quantified in the ethanol extract of PT leaf. Intoxication with CCl4 developed the oxidative stress, fibrosis and inflammation in liver of rats. Moreover, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO), advanced protein oxidation product (APOP) level were found increased; whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in the plasma and liver were decreased in CCl4 administered rats. Treatment with PT prominently mitigated the oxidative stress (TBARS, NO, APOP), and inflammatory (MPO) markers and improved the endogenous antioxidant enzymes (catalase and SOD) activities in CCl4-intoxicated rats. Additionally, histological assessment confirmed the clear manifestation of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of CCl4-intoxicated rats, which was prevented by PT and silymarin treatment. In conclusion, PT treatment may protect the liver in CCl4-administered rats, probably by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis, and also augmenting the function of the antioxidant enzymes.