1. In the present study, we investigated aqueous extracts of Anoectochilus formosanus (AFE) for antihyperglycaemic and anti-oxidant effects in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ). 2. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into groups and treated orally by gavage with vehicle (distilled water) or AFE (1 and 2 g/kg), once a day for 21 days. 3. At the end of the 21 day period, AFE (2 g/kg) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, serum fructosamine, triglycerides and total cholesterol compared with vehicle-treated diabetic rats. In vehicle-treated diabetic rats, levels of renal lipid peroxidation were increased, whereas glutathione concentrations were not affected. Renal lipid peroxidation levels were significantly lower and renal reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations were significantly higher in AFE-treated diabetic rats compared with vehicle-treated diabetic rats. The diabetic kidney in the vehicle-treated group showed a decrease in catalase, but the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was increased. 4. The activity of catalase, but not GSH-Px, was significantly reversed by AFE treatment. These results indicate that AFE (1 and 2 g/kg) not only possesses an antihyperglycemic effect, but that it may also reduce oxidative stress in diabetic rats.
The ability of Anoectochilus formosanus extract (AFE) to react with relevant biological oxidants was evaluated in this study. In addition, its effect on oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) was investigated in vitro and in vivo. AFE could scavenge reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical. The study of human LDL oxidation showed that AFE delayed oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo studies also showed that oral administration of AFE delayed the oxidation of LDL from hyperlipidemic hamsters. The ability of AFE to scavenge free radicals suggests that it may be a promising anti-atherogenic agent.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic actions of crude extracts of Ganoderma tsugae (GTE) on chronic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. CCl4 (20%, 0.5 ml/rat) was given twice a week for 8 weeks, and animals received GTE through the whole experimental period. GTE showed obvious reducing actions on the elevated levels of glutamate-oxalate-transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase (GPT) caused by CCl4 at weeks 3, 6 and 8. Liver fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4 led to the drop of serum albumin and hepatic protein concentrations, while GTE increased serum albumin and hepatic protein concentrations. The CCl4-induced liver fibrosis may prolong the prothrombine time and increase albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. GTE significantly decreased the prothrombine time and A/G ratio. Liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 markedly increased the weight of the spleen, hepatic water and hydroxyproline contents in rats, while GTE decreased the rat's spleen weights, hepatic water and hydroxyproline contents. All these results clearly demonstrated that GTE has hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic activities.
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