Effect of feeding maize/legume mixtures on biochemical indices in rats

In vitro and in vivo immunostimulatory effects of hot water extracts from the leaves of Artemisia princeps Pampanini cv. Sajabal

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia princeps Pampanini (Asteraceae) is used as a traditional medicine to immune function-related diseases, such as dysmenorrhea, inflammation, cancer, and ulcers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of the hot water extract from the leaves of Artemisia princeps Pampanini (WAPP) in recombinant interferon-γ (rIFN-γ)-primed RAW 264.7 macrophages and in cyclophosphamide (20mg/kg, i.p.)-induced immunosuppressed Sprague-Dawley rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with WAPP and production and expressions of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were detected by immunoassay, western blot, qRT-PCR and reporter gene assay. In addition, in vivo immunomodulatory activity was studied by cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression in rats.

RESULTS

In rIFN-γ-primed RAW 264.7 macrophages, pretreatment with WAPP increased the productions of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),and increased the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at the protein level and of iNOS and TNF-α at the mRNA level. Molecular data revealed that WAPP upregulated the transcriptional activity and translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by activating inhibitory kappa B-α (IκB-α) degradation and phosphorylation. Furthermore, WAPP upregulated the phosphorylations of p38 MAP kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). In cycloheximide-induced immunosuppressed rats, pretreatment with WAPP (100, 200, or 400mg/kg, p.o.) increased the serum levels of albumin and globulin, and reduced immobility times.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that upregulations of the expressions of iNOS and TNF-α via the activations of NF-κB and MAPK are responsible for the immunostimulatory effects of WAPP.

Effect of quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa) in diet on some biochemical parameters and essential elements in blood of high fructose-fed rats

The effect of Chenopodium quinoa seeds on lipid profile, glucose level, protein metabolism and selected essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) level was determined in high-fructose fed male Wistar rats. Fructose decreased significantly LDL [42%, p<0.01] and activity of alkaline phosphatase [20%, p<0.05], and increased triglycerides level [86%, p<0.01]. The analysis of blood of rats fed quinoa indicated, that these seeds effectively reduced serum total cholesterol [26%, p<0.05], LDL [57%, p<0.008] and triglycerides [11%, p<0.05] when compared to the control group. Quinoa seeds also significantly reduced the level of glucose [10%, p<0.01] and plasma total protein level [16%, p<0.001]. Fructose significantly decreased HDL [15%, p<0.05] level in control group but when the quinoa seeds were added into the diet the decrease of HDL level was inhibited. Quinoa seeds did not prevent any adverse effect of increasing triglyceride level caused by fructose. It was shown in this study that quinoa seeds can reduce most of the adverse effects exerted by fructose on lipid profile and glucose level.

Time dependent study to evaluate the efficacy of zinc on hepatic marker enzymes and elemental profile in serum and liver of protein deficient rats

This study was designed to determine the time dependent protective effects of zinc sulfate on the serum and liver marker enzymes along with elemental profile in protein deficient Sprague Dawley (S.D.) female rats. Zinc sulfate in the dose of 227 mg/l in drinking water was administered to normal control as well as protein deficient rats for a total duration of 8 weeks. The effects of different treatments were studied on enzymes like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) in rat serum at different time intervals of 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks and in the rat liver at the end of study. The status of different essential elements in liver was also studied. The serum ALP activity got significantly depressed when estimated at the intervals of 4 and 8 weeks. Activity of serum ALT was significantly increased after 4 weeks interval in protein deficient rats and the increasing trend continued upto 8 weeks of protein deficiency. On the other hand, activity of AST showed a significant increase just after 2 weeks and activity continued to be increased up to 8 weeks. Moreover activities of all the hepato marker enzymes showed a significant increase in liver of protein deficient rats. Interestingly, supplementation of Zn to protein deficient rats helped in regulating the altered activities of ALP, AST and ALT both in serum and liver. However, zinc treatment alone to normal rats did not indicate any significant change in the activities of all the enzymes in liver as well serum except at the interval of 2 weeks where a marginal increase in the activity of AST was seen. It has also been observed that concentrations of zinc, copper, iron and selenium were found to be decreased significantly in protein deficient animals. However, the levels of these elements came back to within normal limits when zinc was administered to protein deficient rats.