Background: Borage (Borago officinal L.) is an annual herbaceous plant of great interest because its oil contains a high percentage of -linolenic acid (GLA). The present work was carried out to detect fatty acids composition of the oil extracted from borage seeds (BO) and its potential effectiveness against γ-irradiation-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats. Materials and Methods: GC-MS analysis of fatty acids methyl esters of BO was performed to identify fatty acids composition. Sixty rats were divided into five groups (12 rats each): Control, irradiated; rats were exposed to (6.5 Gy) of whole body γ-radiation, BO (50 mg/kg b.wt), irradiated BO post-treated and irradiated BO prepost-treated. Six rats from each group were sacrificed at two time intervals 7 and 15 days post-irradiation. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels, lipids profile, as well as serum and hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde) (MDA) levels were assessed. Histopathological examination of liver sections were also carried out. Results:The results showed that the high contents of BO extracted by cold pressing, were linoleic acid (34.23%) and GLA (24.79%). Also, oral administration of BO significantly improved serum levels of liver enzymes, lipids profile, as well as serum and hepatic GSH and MDA levels (p<0.001) as compared with irradiated rats after 15 days post irradiation. Moreover, it exerted marked amelioration against irradiation-induced histopathological changes in liver tissues. The improvement was more pronounced in irradiated BO prepost-treated group than irradiated BO post-treated. Conclusion: BO has a beneficial role in reducing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by radiation exposure. Therefore, BO may be used as a beneficial supplement for patients during radiotherapy treatment.

Diabetes mellitus is regarded as a serious chronic disease that carries a high risk for considerable complications. In folk medicine, the edible Grewia asiatica fruit is used in a number of pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the possible curative effect of G. asiatica fruit ethanolic extract against streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced hyperglycemia in rats. Furthermore, mechanism of antihyperglycemic action is investigated. Hyperglycemic rats are either treated with 100 or 200 mg/kg/day G. asiatica fruits extract. Serum glucose, liver glycogen, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin- (IL-) 1β, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α are measured. G. asiatica fruits extract reduces blood glucose and pancreatic MDA levels. It increases liver glycogen and pancreatic GSH contents and SOD enzyme activity. Furthermore, Grewia asiatica fruits extract decreases serum IL-1β and TNF-α. The treatment also protects against STZ-induced pathological changes in the pancreas. The results of this study indicated that G. asiatica fruit extract exerts antihyperglycemic activity against STZ-induced hyperglycemia. The improvement in the pancreatic β-cells and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of G. asiatica fruit extract may explain the antihyperglycemic effect.

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Background:Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease caused by inherited or acquired deficiency in insulin secretion and by decreased responsiveness of the organs to the secreted insulin. Recently, some medicinal plants have been reported to be useful in diabetes treatment. Cleome droserifolia (Samwah) having a long history in Egyptian folk medicine for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Aim of the work:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible antihyperglycemic property of Cleome droserifolia extract (CDE) and its antioxidant mechanism in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Material and Methods:This study was performed on thirty male albino rats of Sprague Dawely strain with an average body weight of 100-110g. Animals were divided into three groups (ten/cage), control untreated group, diabetic group and diabetic group treated with plant extract that was given orally (28.5 mg/kg body wt. twice/ day). Results: Results showed marked decline in levels of serum insulin, body weight, total proteins, albumin, globulin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). These are accompanied with marked elevation in levels of fasting blood glucose, HOMA-IR, AST, ALT, GGT, urea, creatinine, uric acid, serum total lipids (TL), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) and ratios of TC/HDL and LDL/HDL (risk factors) in diabetic rats as compared to the corresponding controls. While the daily administration of diabetic rats with CDE showed significant amelioration in most of these parameters. Conclusion: It could be concluded that CDE treatment exerts a therapeutic protective nature in diabetes by decreasing oxidative stress and pancreatic β-cells' damage which may be attributed to its antioxidative potential and antidiabetic property.

I ONIZING radiation (IR) generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Imbalance between ROS and antioxidants level leads to oxidative stress. Fortunella margarita (F. magarita) fruit contains a lot of bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, ..etc. Therefore, it has high radical scavenging capacities and strong antioxidant activity. This study was designed to determine the probable efficiency of F. margarita extract against liver damage and sperm abnormalities induced by γ-radiation in male rats. Thirty six rats were divided into 6 groups (6 rats each): control group, treated groups: 14 days F. margarita group and 28 days F. margarita group, irradiated group (Irr): rats were exposed to 6Gy of whole body γ-radiation, pre-treated (14 days F. margarita extract + Irr) group and pre-and post-treated (28 days F. margarita extract + Irr) group. Biochemical investigations included lipid profile: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). Liver function enzymes involved analyzing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level, hepatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reduced (GSH) levels. Fertility competence (sperm head, tail and head and tail abnormalities) were recorded. Results obtained revealed the strong efficiency role of F. margarita fruit extract as an antioxidant against hepatotoxicity through enhancement of liver functions ( ALT, AST and GGt), reduction of oxidative stress (MDA, SOD and GSH), and powerful recovering of sperm abnormalities induced by γ-irradiation. Also, adjusting and normalization of TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C and TG have been shown.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is regarded as a serious chronic disease that carries a high risk for considerable complications. The use of natural plant products for management of diabetes is increasing due to their minimal side-effects and economical aspects. Aegle marmelos L. Correa (A. marmelos), family Rutaceae is highly reputed medicinal plant commonly known as bael. A. marmelos fruit is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Aim of the work: This study was aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of A. marmelos fruit ethanolic extract against alloxan-induced diabetes in male rats. Material and Methods: Twenty five male albino rats with an average body weight 180-195g were divided into two main groups; first group: control (n=5) and second group: diabetic rats (n=20), which were divided equally to four subgroups as follows: diabetic untreated rats , diabetic rats treated with 125 mg/kg/day A. marmelos fruit extract; diabetic rats treated with 250 mg/kg/day A. marmelos fruit extract and diabetic rats treated with 500 mg/kg/day A. marmelos fruit extract. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitonial injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg). Results: Phytochemical screening of A. marmelos fruit extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, sterols and triterpenoids. Results of the biological study reported that alloxan-induced diabetic group exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) level accompanied with weight loss and reduction in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, reduced glutathione (GSH) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity when compared to control group. Treatment with A. marmelos fruit extract at the three dose levels reported improvement in the biological evaluation, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, MDA and GSH levels and SOD enzyme activity when compared to the diabetic group. The improvement was most pronounced in 500 mg/kg A.marmelos treated group. Conclusion: It could be concluded that A. marmelos fruit extract had hypoglycemic activity; this effect may be attributed to its antioxidant activity and its high content of active constituents which was proved in this study. Therefore, it could be recommended that A.marmelos fruit may be useful as a healthy food and in the development of antidiabetic drugs.

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