This study was carried out to investigate whether Nigella sativa could decrease the lipid peroxidation, increase the anti-oxidant defence system and also prevent the lipid-peroxidation-induced liver damage in experimentally induced diabetic rabbits. Fifteen New Zealand male rabbits were divided into three experimental groups: control, diabetic and diabetic and N. sativa-treated. The diabetes mellitus (DMI) was induced in the rabbits using 150 mg/kg of 10% alloxan. The diabetic + N. sativa-treated group was given extract of N. sativa seeds orally every day for 2 months after induction of DM. At the end of the 2-month experiment, blood samples were collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), ceruloplasmin and glucose concentration, and livers were harvested for histopathological analysis. Treatment with N. sativa decreased the elevated glucose and MDA concentrations, increased the lowered GSH and ceruloplasmin concentrations, and prevented lipid-peroxidation-induced liver damage in diabetic rabbits. It was concluded that N. sativa might be used in diabetic patients to prevent lipid peroxidation, increase anti-oxidant defence system activity and also prevent liver damage.

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether altered serum total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-associated sialic acid (LSA), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) levels had an interactive connection with diabetes and also whether they were correlated with each other in diabetic patients. Two study groups (control and type 2 diabetic subjects) were included. Two hundred patients (108 female and 92 male), diagnosed and treated for type 2 diabetes in the Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital (Van, Turkey), were selected consecutively to represent type 2 diabetic patients. Fifty healthy individuals (29 female and 21 male) served as the control group matched for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status were selected from hospital staff and other outpatient clinics. All participants had not taken vitamin or mineral supplements for at least 2 wk before sampling. Blood samples were drawn after an overnight fasting in both groups for the determination of serum glucose, TSA, LSA, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Fe, and Mg. It was found that diabetics had higher TSA, LSA, Fe, Mn, Fe/Zn, and Cu/Zn levels, and lower Zn and Mg levels than those of controls. Although, Cu levels were higher, and Cr levels were lower in total and male diabetic patients, they were not different in female diabetic patients than in controls. The Cu/Fe ratio was lower in total and female diabetic patients, but not different in male diabetic patients than controls. The Zn/Cr ratio, on the other hand, was not different in diabetics than in controls. There was only a positive correlation between Fe-Mn levels in male diabetic patients. There was a negative correlation in LSA-Mn, Fe-Cu, Cu-Fe/Zn, and Mn-Cu/Zn levels in total diabetic patients. There was a positive correlation in TSA-Cr, TSA-Mg, LSA-Cu/Fe, LSA-Zn/Cr levels, and a negative correlation in TSA-Cu/Zn, LSA-Mn, Fe-Cu, Mn-Cu, Cu-Fe/Zn, Fe-cholesterol, and Cr-cholesterol in female diabetic patients. Our results showed that TSA, LSA, and selected minerals have interactive connections with diabetes mellitus (DM). There are also many sex-related positive or negative correlations between the altered parameters in diabetic patients. These parameters might be used as diagnostic index in patients with DM.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supplemental antioxidant vitamins and minerals on lipid peroxidation and on the antioxidant systems in rabbits exposed to X-rays. The rabbits were divided into two experimental groups and one control group, each group containing seven rabbits. The first group (VG) received daily oral doses of vitamin E (460 mg/kg live weight) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg live weight). The second group (MG) was fed a mineral-enriched diet that contained 60 mg manganese chloride, 40 mg zinc sulfate, and 5 mg copper sulfate per kilogram of feed. The third group served as controls and received only a standard diet. Blood samples were obtained before and after the supplementation with vitamins or minerals, as well as before and after irradiation with a total dose of 550-rad X-rays. The blood samples were analyzed for their content of malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma vitamins C and E, retinol, reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx). After irradiation, the control group showed increased levels of MDA and activity of GPx (p<0.05), whereas the levels of GSH, vitamin C, and vitamin E were decreased. In the VG, the concentration of MDA was lower (p<0.05), and the concentration of GSH and vitamins C and E were higher (p<0.05) when compared to controls. In the MG, the concentrations of MDA, GSH, vitamin C, and retinol were not affected by the mineral administration and radiation. The level of vitamin E in the MG increased with mineral administration (p<0.05), but decreased after irradiation (p<0.05). For the control group, the level of GSH was higher than in the two experimental groups. After irradiation, the VG animals had vitamin E and C levels that were higher than in MG and control groups (p<0.05). The activity of GPx was not affected by vitamin or mineral supplementation or by irradiation. We conclude that the supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals may serve to reinforce the antioxidant systems, thus having a protective effect against cell damage by X-rays.

N-Aryl sulfonamides belong to a highly important class of organosulfur compounds which are found in a number of FDA-approved drugs such as dofetilide, dronedarone, ibutilide, sotalol, sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole, vemurafenib, and many more.

The study was undertaken to investigate the influence of a-tocopherol (vitamin E) on malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT) activity in lung of rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Fourteen Wistar-albino rats were randomly divided into two groups of seven animals each. The first group was treated intratracheally with bleomycin hydrochloride (BM group); the second group was also instilled with BM but received injections of a-tocopherol twice a week (BM þ E group). The third group was treated in the same manner with saline solution only, acting as controls (C). There were decreases in GSH level and CAT activity while an increase in MDA level in BM group was found compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Vitamin E had a regulator effect on these parameters. After administration of a-tocopherol, the increase in GSH level and CAT activity and the decrease in MDA level were seen in BM þ E group compared to BM group (p < 0.05). Distinct histopathological changes were found in the BM group compared to the untreated rats. Less severe fibrotic lesions were also observed in the BM þ E group. The results show that vitamin E is effective on the prevention of BM-induced PF, as indicated by differences in the lung levels of oxidants and antioxidants.

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The aim of the present study was to investigate the serum total protein (TP), total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-associated sialic acid (LSA), LSA/TP, and LSA/TP values in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Two study groups (healthy controls and type 2 DM subjects) were examined. For the type 2 DM group, 120 patients (60 females and 60 males) who had been diagnosed and treated for type 2 DM in the Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital, Van, Turkey, were selected consecutively. Forty healthy individuals (20 females and 20 males) were selected from hospital staff and other outpatient clinics to serve as the control group. They were matched for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status. None of the participants had taken vitamin or mineral supplements for at least 2 weeks before sampling. To determine serum glucose, TP, TSA, and LSA levels, blood samples were drawn after all of the subjects fasted overnight. It was found that diabetics had higher TSA, LSA, TSA/TP, and LSA/TP levels than controls. However, the TP levels were not significantly different between the groups. Our results showed that TSA, LSA, TSA/TP, and LSA/TP have interactive connections with DM. These parameters can be used as a diagnostic index for patients with DM.