Oxidative stress is one of the major mechanisms implicated in inorganic arsenic poisoning. Punica granatum is known by its free radical scavenging properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of combined selenium and P. granatum against arsenic-induced liver injury. Seventy-five female albino rats were divided into five groups (of 15 rats each). Toxicity was induced by oral sodium arsenite (5.5 mg/kg body weight (bw) daily) (group ІІ). Treatment of arsenic-intoxicated rats was induced by daily oral administration of sodium selenite (3 mg/kg bw) (group ІІІ), 100 mg of P. granatum ethanol extract per kilogram body weight dissolved in 300 mL distilled water in three divided doses (100 mL of this suspension every 8 h) (group IV), and combined daily oral treatment with both selenite and P. granatum ethanol extract (group V). After 3 weeks, serum and liver tissues were obtained from the decapitated rats for different estimations. Hepatotoxicity was demonstrated by significant elevation in liver weights and activities of liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and decrease in serum total proteins and albumin (p < 0.05) which were confirmed by histopathological examination. Additionally, arsenic hepatotoxicity led to an increased values of malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, nitric oxide, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p < 0.05) and decreased activity of thioredoxin reductase, values of total anti-oxidant capacity, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene expression. Significant improvement in all assessed parameters was observed in rat group treated with both P. granatum and selenium. It was concluded that combined P. granatum and selenium treatment had a synergistic hepatoprotective effect against arsenic toxicity through activation of Nrf2 anti-oxidant pathway.

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Obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and fatty liver, are key risk factors for vascular complications. So, this study aimed to compare between telmisartan and taurine supplementation on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in addition to some metabolic disturbances and some vascular complications in an animal model for obesity. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=10) for 8 weeks three groups of them received standard diet with either vehicle or taurine (3% w/v in drinking water) or telmisartan (5 mg/kg, oral) while the other three groups received high fat diet with either vehicle or taurine or telmisartan. Results: The high fat diet group had greater body weight and higher SBP as compared to control rats. Increased plasma glucose, lipid profile (except HDL), insulin, insulin resistance, MDA, and ADMA but decreased HDL, PON-1 and DDAH were also observed. Telmisartan or taurine administration resulted in decreased SBP, plasma glucose, lipid profile, insulin, insulin resistance, MDA, and ADMA but increased both plasma HDL level and PON-1activity, in addition to kidney DDAH enzyme activity with more significant effect of telmisartan than taurine. Taken together, these results support the more beneficial effect of telmisartan than taurine in obese rats by improving SBP, in addition to ameliorating hyperglycemia , dyslipidemia,(metabolic disturbances) and decreasing plasma ADMA but increasing kidney DDAH enzyme activities (vascular complications) at least in part, by improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing oxidative stress, suggesting the possible use of telmisartan as a protective strategy against vascular complications related to obesity.

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