Biochemical Studies on the Cardioprotective Effect of Glutamine on Tissue Antioxidant Defense System in Isoprenaline-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms with a central role involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. The protective effect of glutamine on myocardial antioxidant defense system was investigated during isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction, an animal model of myocardial infarction of human beings. Levels of diagnostic marker enzymes in plasma, reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxides and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in heart tissue were determined. Injection of isoprenaline caused significant increases in the levels of diagnostic marker enzymes in plasma and lipid peroxidation in heart tissue. A parallel decline in the levels of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) and GSH and the activities of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes and antiperoxidative enzymes in heart tissue was also observed. Prior oral administration of glutamine significantly prevented isoprenaline-induced adverse effects and maintained myocardial antioxidant status at near normal status. The cardioprotective effect of glutamine is probably related to a strengthening of the myocardial membrane by its membrane stabilizing action, or to a counteraction of free radicals by its antioxidant property, or to its ability to maintain near to normal status the activities of free radical scavenging enzymes and the level of GSH, which protect myocardial membrane against oxidative damage by decreasing lipid peroxidation

EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF AZOLLA FILICULOIDES IN GASTRIC MUCOSA OF ULCERATED RATS

Objective: To investigate the anti ulcer effect of aqueous extract of Azolla  filiculoides (AF) in experimentally induced gastric ulceration in male Wistar rats.Methods: Twenty four rats were divided into four groups of six rats in each group. The group I and III rats were fed with standard diet, whereas, group II and IV rats were pre-treated orally with aqueous extract of Azolla microphylla (200 mg/kg body) twice a day for 15 d. Twenty four hours before sacrifice, group III and IV rats were induced with ulcer by pylorus-ligation plus oral administration of a single dose of HCl-ethanol mixture (1.5 ml). The gastric juice and mucosal scraps were collected from all the groups for biochemical analyses.Results: In ulcer induced rats, there observed a significant (P<0.05) increase in the following parameters like ulcer index, gastric output, acid output, lipid peroxides and these levels were significantly (P<0.05) reduced to near normal values in AF pre-treated rats. A significant decrease was also observed in the levels of reduced glutathione, hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase) and antiperoxidative enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) in ulcer induced rats. These values were restored back to near normalcy in AF pre-treated rats.Conclusion: The results reinforce the antisecretory, acid neutralizing and the antioxidant potential of the whole plant extract of AF against experimentally induced gastric ulcer in rats. However, further studies are needed to identify the active principle involved in eliciting the antiulcer activity of the plant.Â

Protective effect of L-glutamine on lysosomal integrity in isopoterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Lysosomal acid hydrolases play an imperative part in the initiation of inflammation processes associated with myocardial infarction. In the present investigation, we have studied the protective effect of L-glutamine on isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage in male albino rats with respect to alterations in lysosomal function. The myocardial infarction in experimental animals was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of isoproterenol (11 mg/100 g body weight/day) for 2 days. The total and free activities of lysosomal acid hydrolases (β-glucuronidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase) were determined in plasma and heart tissue of control and treated rats. Significant elevation in the total activities of lysosomal hydrolases was observed in plasma and heart tissue of isoproterenol administered rats. A parallel (p<0.05) rise in the free activities of these acid hydrolases in the cardiac tissue was also noticed. Isoproterenol-mediated lysosomal membrane fragility was evident from the altered subcellular distribution of heart β-glucuronidase activity. Prior oral administration of L-glutamine (100 mg/kg body weight/day for a period of 20 days) significantly attenuated the isoproterenol-induced release of these lysosomal hydrolases into the systemic circulation from the cardiac lysosomes and maintained the lysosomal stability at level comparable to that of control rats. The results of the present study suggested that the cardioprotective activity of glutamine might be related to its membrane-stabilizing property

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective property of squalene for counteracting the oxidative damage induced by methotrexate in experimental rats

Methotrexate (MTX), an antifolate drug, is extensively prescribed for patients suff ering from diseases like cancer, psoriasis, neoplasms, and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite its eff ectiveness, MTX sometimes fi nds limited application because its undesirable side eff ects, including hepatic or renal impairment, bone marrow toxicity and gastrointestinal mucosal injury. Squalene, a highly unsaturated isoprenoid compound, isolated from shark liver oil has great potential in neutralizing the damaging eff ects triggered by free radicals. Therefore, in this study, the protective role of dietary squalene supplementation on oxidative stress induced by methotrexate in experimental rats was evaluated. A signifi cant reduction was displayed in the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in MTX-intoxicated groups compared to other groups. Similarly, the activities of glutathione dependant enzymes (GPx and GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in MTX-induced groups were shown to be lower compared to the untreated control. Increased LPO (lipid peroxide) level was found in MTX-intoxicated groups compared to other groups. In addition, alterations in the levels of liver marker enzymes like AST, ALP, ALT, and LDH were noticed in MTX intoxicated groups compared to other groups. Biochemical results were confi rmed by the histopathological examination of liver sections. In conclusion, the result obtained in the present study proposes that squalene exerts antioxidant activity and is capable of ameliorating oxidative stress and liver injury induced by MTX

Amino Acid Compositions of 27 Food Fishes and Their Importance in Clinical Nutrition

Proteins and amino acids are important biomolecules which regulate key metabolic pathways and serve as precursors for synthesis of biologically important substances; moreover, amino acids are building blocks of proteins. Fish is an important dietary source of quality animal proteins and amino acids and play important role in human nutrition. In the present investigation, crude protein content and amino acid compositions of important food fishes from different habitats have been studied. Crude protein content was determined by Kjeldahl method and amino acid composition was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and information on 27 food fishes was generated. The analysis showed that the cold water species are rich in lysine and aspartic acid, marine fishes in leucine, small indigenous fishes in histidine, and the carps and catfishes in glutamic acid and glycine. The enriched nutrition knowledge base would enhance the utility of fish as a source of quality animal proteins and amino acids and aid in their inclusion in dietary counseling and patient guidance for specific nutritional needs

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Not AvailableProteins and amino acids are important biomolecules which regulate key metabolic pathways and serve as precursors for synthesis of biologically important substances; moreover, amino acids are building blocks of proteins. Fish is an important dietary source of quality animal proteins and amino acids and plays important role in human nutrition. In the present investigation, crude protein content and amino acid compositions of important food fishes from different habitats have been studied. Crude protein content was determined by Kjeldahl method and amino acid composition was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and information on 27 food fishes was generated. The analysis showed that the cold water species are rich in lysine and aspartic acid, marine fishes in leucine, small indigenous fishes in histidine, and the carps and catfishes in glutamic acid and glycine. The enriched nutrition knowledge base would enhance the utility of fish as a source of quality animal proteins and amino acids and aid in their inclusion in dietary counseling and patient guidance for specific nutritional needs.Not Availabl