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.

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.

The status of nitric oxide oxidation products and antioxidant vitamins were investigated in goats infected with endoparasites and blood parasites (Trichostrongylidae sp. + Protostrongylidae sp. + Eimeria sp. + Babesia sp.), in this study. Eighteen goats were naturally infected with these parasites and ten healthy goats served as controls which had been treated with antiparasitic drugs after parasitological examinations were carried out. The concentrations of nitric oxide oxidation products (nitrate, nitrite) and antioxidant vitamins (vitamins E and C, β-carotene and retinol) were determined spectrophotometrically in the blood serum of all goats. The results were expressed as nitrate (µg/ml) 7.25 ± 1.31-4.69 ± 0.32; nitrite (µg/ml) 1.52 ± 0.39-1.64 ± 0.19; vitamin E (mg/100) 0.13 ± 0.05-0.42 ± 0.02; vitamin C (mg/100 ml) 1.49 ± 0.26-1.46 ± 0.15; retinol (g/100 ml) 201.51 ± 15.69-234.081 ± 45.15; β-carotene (g/100 ml) 62.71 ± 7.14-53.95 ± 3.82. In conclusion, nitrate concentrations of the infected group were higher than controls (p < 0.05) whereas vitamin E levels of the infected group were lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The concentrations of the other indices examined were not statistically different between groups. These results suggest that the parasitic infections have direct effects on the concentrations of vitamin E, an important antioxidant, and on the increase of nitrate levels which may result from the pathophysiological effects of the parasitic infections. Goat, parasite, nitrate, nitrite, antioxidant vitaminsThere are important changes in the biochemistry of hosts suffering from parasitic invasions depending on the species of the parasites and the sites of the hosts they invade (Aksakal and Özer 1987; Ö zer et al. 1995;Russel and Mc Dowell 1989). Gastrointestinal parasites in goats cause anemia by decreasing the amount of haemoglobin (Hb) and the numbers of erythrocytes (Deger 1990; Ö zer et al. 1995). Intra-erythrocytic parasites (Babesia, Plasmodium) metabolise Hb. As a result, the free O 2 and H 2 O 2 increase lipid peroxidation (Deger 1990;Ginsburg and Atamina 1994).NO is a biologic mediator in biochemical reactions, and physiologically, it is synthesised from L-arginine by NO synthase employing cofactor NADPH. In the host the levels of NO arise in some pathologic situations. In the body the NO is oxidised to NO 2 and NO 3 within a very short period of time. This short duration in the conversion of NO to NO 2 and NO 3 makes it difficult to accurately measure the concentration of NO. Therefore, by determining the amounts of NO 2 and NO 3 the levels of NO can be assessed (Bredt and Snyder 1994; M oncada et al. 1991; Torreilles and Guÿerin 1995).Anti-oxidant vitamins such as E, C, and A protect the cells from damage against free oxygen radicals generated as a result of parasitoses (Chuenkova et al. 1989;Medzyavichyus et al. 1989). Vitamins A, C, E, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid,

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Our study developed a quick method for confirmatory analysis of avermectins (abamectin B, doramectin, ivermectin B, eprinomectin B, and moxidectin) in bovine milk according to the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC requirements. Avermectins were liquid-liquid extracted with acetonitrile, followed by an evaporation step, and then analyzed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode. An in-house method validation was performed and the data reported on specificity, linearity, recovery, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, decision limit, and detection capability. The advantage of this method is that low levels of avermectins are detectable and quantitatively confirmed at a rapid rate in milk.

Aim: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent despite its toxic adverse effects, including hepatotoxicity. Ellagic acid (EA) is an antioxidant agent and exhibits free radical scavenging activities. In this experimental study, the effects of EA on CP-induced liver injury were investigated. Material and Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats (180-220 gr) were separated into four equal groups. A single dose of 150 mg/kg CP was given intraperitoneally to generate hepatotoxicity. Different doses (50 and 75 mg/kg) of EA were administered orally 20 minutes before, 4 and 8 hours after CP administration. The histopathological evaluation of kidney tissues and immunohistochemical evaluation for caspase-3 were conducted as well as the serum biochemical analyses. Results: CP treated group exhibited a significant increase in serum hepatic enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), compared to the control group. Similarly, the total triglycerides (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels increased significantly. Additionally, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels decreased, which was not significant, compared to the control group. At both EA doses, VLDL-C, AST, ALT levels decreased significantly while HDL-C level revealed a significant increase. 75 mg/kg EA treatment caused a non-significant elevation in total cholesterol (TC) concentration. Microscopic analysis showed a significant congestion, edema, degeneration and necrosis in the livers of CP administered group. However, edema, degeneration, and necrosis were significantly reduced in animals treated with EA-75. In addition, caspase-3 expression significantly decreased in EA-75 group. Conclusion: These results indicate the protective effects of EA in CP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

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Kocatepe Vet J 2013 6(1): 19-24 19 ÖZET Gıda kısıtlamasının metabolik hızı azaltarak, lipid peroksidasyonu düşürdüğü öne sürülmektedir. Oksijen metabolizmasının bu ara indirgenme ürünlerinin düzeyleri, hücresel savunma mekanizmasını oluşturan antioksidan sistemler ile kontrol edilmektedir. Kısıtlı beslemenin antioksidan savunma sistemini destekleyip güçlendirdiği de bildirilmektedir. Araştırmada 8 hafta süreyle % 50 gıda kısıtlaması uygulanan 6 haftalık erkek Wistar Albino ratların karaciğer, beyin, testis, dalak, kalp ve böbrek dokularında; lipid peroksidasyon ürünü malondialdehid (MDA) ve glutatyon (GSH) düzeylerindeki değişimler incelenmiştir. Gıda kısıtlaması sonrası deneme grubu, doku MDA düzeyinde artış gözlenmesine karşın bu durum istatistiksel açıdan önemli bulunmamıştır (p>0.05). Deneme grubu GSH düzeylerinde, karaciğer, beyin ve böbreklerde bir miktar azalma olmasına karşın testis dokusunda hafif artış, dalak ve kalp dokusunda herhangi bir değişim gözlenmemiştir. Kontrol ve deneme grubu GSH düzeyleri, istatistiksel açıdan önemli bulunmamıştır (p>0.05). MDA düzeylerinde hafif artışın gözlenmesi, buna karşın GSH düzeylerinde hafif azalmanın tespit edilmesini diyet kısıtlaması sırasında protein alımının yetersizliği ve homeostazisin sağlanması için adaptasyon amacıyla gerçekleştiği düşünülmektedir.Food restriction is known to decrease lipid peroxidation by causing reduced metabolic rate. During the oxygen metabolism in the body, lipid peroxidation end-products are generated. It is suggested that food restriction causes the enhancement of the antioxidant system. In this study, the alterations of malondialdehid which is one of the end-products of the lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels in the tissues liver, brain, testis, spleen, heart and kidney of the rats which exposed to the food restriction by 50 % during 8 weeks were investigasted. After the restriction period, even though the tissue MDA levels of the experimental group was found to be increased, this was not statistically important (p>0.05). As for the GSH levels of the study group, it tended to decrease in the liver, brain and kidneys but slightly increased in the testis tissue while there were no change in the spleen and heart tissues in respect of GSH levels. In spite of these alterations, it was not found statistical importance between the study and the control groups (p>0.05). It can be concluded that some adaptational changes such as slight increase in MDA levels and decrease in GSH levels started to take place in response of decreased protein and energy intake. But we think that the period of restriction was not enough to observe the drastical changes in these mentioned parameters in tissue levels.