Chard extract increased gastric sialic acid and ameliorated oxidative stress in valproic acid-administered rats

Valproic acid, one of the most used drugs for epilepsy patients, has some known side effects. Chard extract has many pharmacological activities. The study aims to evaluate whether valproic acid might interfere with oxidative metabolism in gastric tissue and whether chard ameliorates these effects. The Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=8); control, chard-given control, valproic acid, and chard-given valproic acid. The aqueous extracts of chard leaves were given 1 h before the administration of valproic acid for 7 days. On the 8th day, the animals were sacrificed under anesthesia and gastric tissues were homogenized. When compared to the control group, valproic acid significantly increased malondialdehyde and catalase activity, while superoxide dis- mutase activity decreased. Chard administration increased glutathione and, sialic acid levels and decreased malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity in the valproic acid group. Based on these findings, since chard increased gastric sialic acid levels, we may suggest that chard may protect gastric mucosa may be through its antioxidant effects

In vitro urease and trypsin inhibitory activities of some sulfur compounds

Background and Aims: Organosulfur compounds modulate the activities of plurality of metabolic enzymes, especially those that activate (cytochrome P-450s) or detoxify (glutathione-S-transferases) carcinogens. They also inhibit the formation of DNA adducts in different target tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of some sulfur compounds on urease and trypsin activities in vitro

The effects of vanadyl sulfate on glutathione, lipid peroxidation and nonenzymatic glycosylation levels in various tissues in experimental diabetes

Background and Aims: Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia which over time leads to serious damage of several body systems. Vanadium ions and their complexes have been demonstrated to have various insulin-mimetic and antidiabetic effects. The object of the present work was to investigate the effect of vanadyl sulfate ( VS) on serum total lipid and protein parameters, glutathione, lipid peroxidation and nonenzymatic glycosylation levels in cardiac, lens, lung and skeletal muscle tissues of STZ diabetic rats