Hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum linn) on streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

Effect of oral administration of 200 mg/Kg body weight of the aqueous extract ofOcimum sanctum (Tulsi) mixed with diet for eight weeks to diabetic (streptozotocin induced) rats was studied. There was significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, lipid peroxidation products, (LPO) and improvement in glucose tolerance. The aqueous extract also decreased LPO formation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARS) and increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione transferase (GT) and one antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma and rat liver, lung, kidney and brain. The decrease in TBARS and increase in GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX, and GT clearly shows the antioxidant property ofOcimum sanctum.     

Evaluation of adenosine deaminase activity and lipid peroxidation levels in diabetes mellitus

There was increase in erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in red blood cells (RBC's), white blood cells (WBC's) and plasma, in 30 patients of confirmed diabetes mellitus, 10 each of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM or type I), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or type II) and diabetes with ketoacidosis when compared with 20 healthy individuals (controls). Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c%, plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and glycerol levels were also elevated in all the cases when compared with controls. The increase was more in diabetic ketoacidosis group. Significant positive correlations were seen between erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and ADA activities in RBC's, WBC's and plasma. It is suggested that decreased tissue adenosine levels due to increase in ADA activity, is related to the severity of hyperglycemia and lipid peroxidation in diabetes mellitus.     

不同脱水方法对苦瓜种子活力影响的研究

成熟的苦瓜种子含水量较高，对脱水的反应既有别于正常性种子，又不同于顽拗性种子．室温下应用不同的方法脱水，虽然脱水速度不同，但都有利于苦瓜种于萌发．当含水量在6％以上时．随含水量降低，种子发芽率，发芽势和活力指数显著提高；超氧物歧化酶（SOD）的活性略有降低，脂氧合酶（LOX）的活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量缓慢上升．当含水量低于6％时，种子发芽率和活力指数下降．SOD活性迅速降低，LOX活性和MDA含量明显增加．温度较高的日晒脱水可显著降低苦瓜种子的发芽率和活力指数．使种子很快死亡；并显著降低SOD和LOX的活性．MDA含量增加明显．室温脱水和6％～9％的含水量有利于苦瓜种子的萌发和活力保持．     

Hypolipidemic Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Celastrus paniculatus</Emphasis> in Experimentally Induced Hypercholesterolemic Wistar Rats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate hypolipidemic effect of methanolic extract of Celastrus paniculatus in experimentally induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding the animals with high fat diet. Oral administration of methanolic seed extract (50%) of Celastrus paniculatus at the optimized dose of 65 mg/kg body weight, substantially reduced the plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in comparison with induced hypercholesterolemic animal group and the results were comparable with the standard hypocholesterolemic drug and almost similar to the control group. Atherogenic index and liver weight of treated animals also showed significant decrease compared to the hypercholesterolemic animals. It substantially increased the HDL cholesterol level as compared to control group. A significant increase in the activities of lipoprotein lipase and plasma LCAT enhanced hepatic bile acid synthesis and thereby, increased degradation of cholesterol to neutral sterols. Furthermore, the activities of HMG-CoA reductase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were significantly reduced. Histological studies showed less cholesterol deposits in the aorta of animals fed with seed extract of C. paniculatus compared to the induced hypercholesterolemic animals not given C. paniculatus supplement.     

Lipid peroxidation and spectrin of RBC membrane in hydroxyurea treated Eβ thalassaemia

The aim of the present work is to understand the effect of low dose of hydroxyurea (HU) therapy on oxidative damage of RBC membrane in non-transfused Eβ thalassaemia. HU was administered at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day for 90 consecutive days. The percentage of spectrin and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured. The HbF level was significantly increased after 90 days of HU therapy. MDA level of RBC membrane was decreased. There was no change in PCV, Hb and spectrin content of RBC membrane after HU therapy for 90 days in Eβ thalassaemia. Increment of HbF in HU treated Eβ patient may have some role on the correction of oxidative damage of RBC membrane by inhibiting further degradation of spectrin and by decreasing lipid peroxidation of red cell membrane.     

Effect of corticosteroids on elevated intracellular sodium, plasma lipid peroxide levels and reduced Na+, K+-ATPase activity in patients of bronchial asthma

In view of several reports that there is a lack of balance in free radicals in case of bronchial asthma (1) the effect of free radicals on cell membrane was studied by estimating the membrane bound protein Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity and the intracellular sodium level in patients of bronchial asthma before and after a short course (one week) of oral corticosteroid (prednisolone 0.75–1mg/kg body weight) therapy. Results showed that there is a definite statistically significant rise in free radical level and intracellular sodium level and a significant lowering of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity in case of untreated bronchial asthma. After short course of therapy with oral corticosteroids, the free radical level and intracellular sodium level decreased significantly, together with a significant rise of the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity. Also, a significant negative correlation (r=−0.74) between the lipid peroxide level and the Na⁺,-K⁺-ATPase activity was found in these cases.     

Total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in liver transplantation

Liver transplantation is an accepted therapy for chronic liver disease patients. These patients generally have low levels of fat soluble vitamins, which have important antioxidant roles. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate whether such patients had evidence of antioxidant depletion and increased lipid peroxidation before transplant and whether the subsequent ischemia and reperfusion encountered during liver transplantation have any effect on antioxidant levels and lipid peroxidation. We assessed plasma total antioxidant capacity and serum lipid peroxide in 12 patients undergoing liver transplantation and equal numbers of healthy subjects. We found that before reperfusion, antioxidant levels were significantly decreased along with significantly elevated lipid peroxidation levels as compared with healthy controls (P<0.001). On reperfusion of the liver graft, further declined values of total antioxidant accompanied with highly elevated lipid peroxidation were seen than those of pre-reperfusion samples (P<0.001). This data shows that patients undergoing liver transplant have lowered antioxidant defenses and evidence of free radical damage, which compound the additional insult of reperfusion injury. Therefore antioxidant therapy in these patients before transplantation may ameliorate the effects of reperfusion.     

活性氧代谢与植物的抗逆性

简述了植物体内活性氧的产生及其主要部位,活性氧对膜脂过氧化的启动以及活性氧对细胞膜系统结构的损伤,着重讨论了活性氧的清除与植物的抗逆性之间的关系,认为在各种逆境胁迫下,植物体内酶促与非酶促系统对活性氧的清除从而增强了植物的抗逆性,同时,应用一些外源新型植物生长调节剂可有效促进酶促系统清除活性氧,更好地增强植物对逆境的忍耐力。     

Hyperlipidemia, increased lipid peroxidation and changes in antioxidant enzymes, Na+−K+-ATPase in erythrocytes of type 2 diabetic patients in andhra pradesh

Plasma levels of lipids, lipoproteins and lipid peroxides and erythrocyte Na⁺−K⁺ ATPase, Mg²⁺ATPase and antioxidant enzymes were measured in type-2 diabetic patients. A significant decrease in Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity was observed in diabetic patients which was negatively correlated with blood glucose and lipid peroxides, while the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was increased. In the diabetic subjects the plasma concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ were increased where as erythrocyte levels of Na⁺ were increased and K⁺ were decreased. Hyperlipidaemia and increased levels of lipid peroxides were observed in the diabetic subjects. There was a significant increase in erythrocyte catalase activity in diabetics which positively correlated with their lipid peroxides. There was no change in GPx activities between controls and diabetics.     

A Study to Evaluate Lipid Profile in Treatment Naïve HIV Positive Patients

HIV infection is associated with lipid abnormalities in treatment naïve patients. CD4 count is used for monitoring the HIV infection. Primary objective was to evaluate and correlate lipid profile and CD4 counts in HIV infection. Secondary objective was to evaluate the feasibility of using Lipid profile to monitor the HIV infected treatment naïve patients instead of CD4 counts. 112 patients were selected based on a criteria from ART center in tertiary care center. CD4 counts were assessed and Lipid profile was evaluated enzymatically. A correlation study was done between the lipid profile and the CD4 count and clinical stages of infection. Cholesterol showed no significant correlation in any stage. HDL-C showed significant correlation (p < 0.05) with stage 2 and 4 disease. LDL-C showed no significant correlation in any stage. TGL showed significant correlation (p < 0.05) at stage 4 disease. Hence, HDL-C and TGL can be used as indicators of lipid status and for infection progression in treatment naive HIV patients, while Cholesterol and LDL-C has no role to play.