Metabolic syndrome is a serious consequence of obesity characterized by increased cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance. While diets enriched with natural antioxidants showed beneficial effects on oxidative stress, blood pressure, and serum lipid composition, diet supplementation with synthetic antioxidants showed contradictive results. Thus, we tested, in this study, whether a daily dosage of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) would affect cardiovascular risk factor associated with obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. Obese rats showed increased serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and atherogenic index after 6 and 9 weeks of being fed an HFD. Importantly, ACV ameliorated all of these parameters significantly. Oxidative stress already developed after 6 weeks of HFD and was significantly reduced by daily doses of ACV. Oral administration of ACV normalized various biochemical and metabolic changes since it exhibited a very significant (P < .001) reduction in malondialdehyde levels, whereas an increase in thiol group concentrations and antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and catalase [CAT] activities and vitamin E concentrations). In addition, a modulation in trace element levels was observed when compared with HFD groups. These findings suggested that HFD alters the oxidant-antioxidant balance, as evidenced by a reduction in the antioxidant enzyme activities and vitamin E level, and enhanced lipid peroxidation. ACV can be beneficial for the suppression of obesity-induced oxidative stress in HFD rats through the modulating antioxidant defense system and reduces the risk of obesity-associated diseases by preventing the atherogenic risk.

Nicotine, a major toxic component of tobacco, has been identified as an important risk factor for infant and children diseases. It is concentrated in breast milk and is absorbed by the infant. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of maternal nicotine exposure during lactation on breast-fed rats and at the pubertal age by measuring biomarkers of oxidative stress. Particularly, a new parameter, the thiol concentration was evaluated. Two groups of lactating Wistar rats were used. For the first group, female rats were given an intraperitoenal injection of nicotine or saline (2 mg/kg per day) during lactation. For the second group, we reproduced the same process described above and then the female and male pups were separately kept after weaning without any treatment until the puberty (at 45 days of age). In the liver and lung of the offspring, we examined the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the thiol concentration, and the activities of two antioxidant enzymes: superoxyde dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). In the plasma, alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) activities were measured. For rats aged 21 days, the treatment significantly reduced the thiol concentration, SOD, and CAT activities but increased MDA level, AST, and ALT activities. For rats aged 45 days, the males and females did not react the same way. In fact, the males were more affected. These results indicate that maternal nicotine exposure during the lactation period induces oxidative stress in the liver and lung of lactating offspring, which is maintained until the puberty, especially for the male rats.

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Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrinal disorders and medicinal plants continue to play an important role in the management of this disease. In this study, Rosa canina was investigated for the antioxidant and α-amylase inhibition activities. Materials and Methods: Methanolic extract of Rosa canina was investigated for its potential antioxidant activity. The extracts' total phenolic and flavonoid contents and scavenging capacity for free radicals were evaluated. The α-amylase inhibition assay was also carried. Results: Rosa canina extract exhibits a total Phenolic and flavonoid levels respectively (21.918 mg GAE/g and 2.647mg ER/g). The free radical scavenging activity was found to be prominent against DPPH with an IC50 of 0.668 mg/ml and against ABTS with an IC50 of 0.467 mg/ml. Extract showed a significant ferric ion reducing activities with an IC50 of4.962 mg/ml. Conclusion: Rosa canina exerted a higher inhibitory activity against α-amylase. The obtained results support the antidiabetic use of rosa canina.