Effect of Purslane on Kidney Failure Following Copper Toxicity in a Rat Model

Background and purpose: Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element. The toxic level of copper can catalyze the formation of free radicals which cause various diseases including kidney failure. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of purslane on kidney failure due to copper toxicity in rat model. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided equally and randomly into four groups. Group I was control group, while in group II, copper sulphate was administrated orally in dose of 200 mg/kg body weight every day for one month. In group III, on the other hand, purslane was orally given in a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight per day for one month. Group IV received combined treatment of copper sulphate and pursalne as described in groups II and III. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine was then measured. The kidney tissues were subject to histopathological study. Results: The results showed that serum BUN and creatinine were increased in the copper-treated rat which were 52/20± 4/91 and 0/56± 0/06, respectively. Purslane administration also decreased the elevated level of creatinine and BUN in rats which received toxic levels of copper (0/48± 0/03 and 44/80± 5/7, respectively). Conclusion: The present study revealed that purslane improved some kidney function parameters due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

LC-MS-based metabolite profiling of aqueous extract of Pergularia tomentosa L. and its anti-hyperglycemic effect

Objective(s): In this study, to find scientific evidence for the traditional use of Pergularia tomentosa as an anti-diabetic remedy, the effects of its aqueous extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats were evaluated.Materials and Methods: Wistar rats were fasted overnight and diabetes mellitus was induced using streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). The rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups (n=5): group I (normoglycaemic control), group II (diabetic rats), group III (diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg BW of an aqueous extract of P. tomentosa), group IV (normoglycemic rats treated with 200 mg/kg BW of an aqueous extract of P. tomentosa). Chemical profiling of the aqueous extract was carried out using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization and multiple-stage linear ion-trap and orbitrap highresolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MS). In addition, the quantitative determination of the main cardenolides in the extract was carried out by an analytical approach based on LC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with ESI source and hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass analyzer (LCESI/QTrap/MS/MS).Results: Aqueous extract of P. tomentosa showed a reasonable reduction in blood glucose level. Probably, the P. tomentosa effect on hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic diabetic animals was associated with antioxidant properties, triglyceride levels, as well as liver enzymes. Meanwhile, LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MS analysis led to identification of double-linked cardenolides along with cardenolides and flavone glycosides as the main bioactive compounds.Conclusion: The extract decreased the glucose level and induced a beneficial effect on the lipid profile, probably due to the presence of cardenolide glycosides