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Editor’s Choice : Quercetin Enhances Endurance Capacity via Antioxidant Activity and Size of Muscle Fibre Type 1
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Abstract: This study aimed to examine effects of quercetin on 1) endurance capacity 2) malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in skeletal muscle and 3) muscle fibre density and size in mice after an intense exercise. There were 5 groups: control, vitamin C (250 mg/kg body weight), quercetin 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg body weight respectively once a day for 28 days. Endurance capacity was measured by exhaustive swimming exercise test which was done 24-h after swimming at high intensity. Then muscles were analyzed for MDA, SOD activity, and muscle fibre density and size. After the 28-day treatment, endurance time in vitamin C and quercetin treated groups at dose of 150 mg/kg body weight were longer than the vehicle group (p<0.05). MDA concentration in extensor digitorum longus muscle was lower than vehicle group in vitamin C, Q150 and Q450 groups and in soleus muscle the highest was in Q300 group. SOD activity in soleus muscle in Q150 group was higher than vitamin C and Q450 groups. Significant increase in cell diameter of soleus muscle was found (p<0.05). Current findings suggest that ingestion of quercetin can improve endurance capacity, due probably to increased antioxidant activity and size of muscle fibre type 1. Keywords: Quercetin, oxidative stress, time to exhaustion, slow twitch muscle fibre.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Effect of Short Term Sibutramine Supplementation on Appetite Suppression and Related Metabolic Responses
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Abstract: The appetite suppressing property of Sibutramine is well reported. The present study was undertaken to investigate the appetite regulatory mechanism and associated metabolic changes induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by its short term supplementation. The effect of the drug on the regulatory hormones and biochemical variables was studied at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. There was a decrease in food intake of rats by 35.5% in comparison to their basal food intake as well as untreated controls. There was an increase in plasma levels of adiponectin, serotonin and a decrease in IGF-1 and corticosterone in the treated animals. The circulating levels of ghrelin marginally decreased with a corresponding increase in leptin and CCK in case of treated rats. These may be responsible for the anorectic effect of the drug. Keywords: Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, obesity, appetite, leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Red Dry Wine Modulates Plasma Cholesterol Levels and Cardiac Enzymes in Humans
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Abstract: Several studies has pointed that red wine diet, rich in polyphenols, has several effects like vasodilation, possible antioxidant effect, decrease of cellular events of atherosclerosis, decrease of blood pressure, and reduction of cardiovascular risks. This paper proposes an investigation of the effects of a 21 days diet of 200 ml dialy of red dry wine for markers of muscle injury such as CK and CK-MB, besides cholesterol and its fractions, LDL and HDL, and triglycerides, in normal subjects.The results showed decreased levels of plasma total cholesterol and LDL, and a tendency to increased levels of HDL, what suggests red dry wine has effects on decrease cardiovascular risks. However, significant increase of cardiac CK-MB isoenzyme was observed what could point to increase the oxidation of muscle tissues. It can be concluded that, despite the CK-MB increase, red dry wine can be considered as a tool to decrease cardiovascular diseases risks. Keywords: Red Wine, Polyphenols, Cholesterol, CK-MB enzyme, Cardiovascular risks.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Assessment of Anti-Oxidant Potency of Small Chain Glycopeptides Using DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Assay
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Abstract: 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) in-vitro assay was employed to determine the antioxidant potency of test compounds I to VII [Arg-Thr-Starch (RTStr); Ser-Arg-Lac (SRLac); Asn-Arg-Mannose (NRMs); Arg-Asn-Lac (RNLac); Arg-Thr-Lac (RTLac); His-Asn-Mannose (HNMs); Asn-His-Lac (NHLac)] using ascorbic acid as the standard drug. The percentage scavenging activity of the test drugs were determined at different concentrations and the IC50 value of the test compounds were subsequently compared with that of ascorbic acid. Among the compounds tested, compound II (SRLac) showed highest antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 14.2 mg/ml whereas compounds I (RTS), VII (NHLac) and IV (RNLac) revealed the IC50 value of 14.3 mg/ml, 14.5 mg/ml and 15.7 mg/ml, respectively when compared with ascorbic acid (IC50 = 15.8 mg/ml). All the synthesized glycopeptides were further characterized by TLC, Melting point, IR, NMR and Mass spectral datas. Based on the above results, Ser-Arg-Lac could be considered as a lead compound for the development of new antioxidant drug for prevention of human diseases. Keywords: 1.1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, Antioxidant, Glycopeptides, Ascorbic acid, Potency.Download Full Article |
Editor’s Choice : Comparative Study of the Nutritional Value of Four Types of Egyptian Palm Pollens
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Abstract: Pollen grains are good sources of vitamins, minerals and amino acids with a high nutritional value that can be used as human food supplement. Date palm pollens are used in the Middle East especially Egypt in herbal mixtures as a folk medicine remedy for curing male infertility and promoting fertility in women .The raw materials purchased from the market are found to be a mixture of several palm pollens. The main objective of this study was to determine the nutritional value of four local Egyptian date pollen grains {Amhat(A), Hiani(H), Sewy(S)& Zaghlol(Z)} by microscopical and chemical means. These differences could determine the quality of separate pollen grains and show to what extent they affect the quality of the natural products manufactured from them? Each of the pollen samples were treated identically: collected from locations of similar clay loamy soils, in March 2011 at an early time of the day, subjected to electron microscope examination and chemical analysis of trace elements, amino acids & vitamins. The results showed that there are clear differences in the quality of the four Egyptian palm pollens which could be distinguished microscopically and chemically by the percentage of the trace elements, amino acids & vitamins. Keywords: Egyptian date palm pollen grains, nutritional value, microscopic and chemical analysis.Download Full Article |