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Walid Saeed, Molham AL-Habori, Riyadh Saif-Ali, Ekram Al-Eryani Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sana`a, Sana`a, YemenCorrespondence: Molham AL-Habori Email malhabori@hotmail.comPurpose: In view of the high rate of obesity and physical inactivity as well as the rising incidence of Type 2 DM among children in the neighboring Gulf countries and Middle East region; the aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prediabetes in Yemeni school-aged children.Patients and Methods: In this study, 1402 school children aged 12– 13 years old (grade 7) were recruited from public schools in the capital Sana’a during the period April–May 2013. Anthropometric measurements and BP were recorded and BMI was calculated. Fasting venous blood (5 mL) was collected for biochemical analysis including FBG, HbA1c, insulin and lipids profile. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-β) were calculated.Results: The prevalence of prediabetes (as defined by impaired fasting glucose) and MetS (as classified by the IDF 2007) were 0.86% and 0.5%, respectively. Our results also showed 5.21% and 20.26% of the children to have two or one factor(s) of the MetS criteria fulfilled, respectively, with low HDL-c (17%) being the most prevalent MetS component, followed by metabolic glucose (8%), raised TG (5.3%), DBP (1.4%), and high WC (0.5%). Moreover, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 4.2% and 2.8%, respectively; and about 1.2% of children had abnormal high insulin levels. Children with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) had increased HOMA-IR (p = 0.016) and SBP (p = 0.042) and decreased HDL-c (p = 0.034) and HOMA-β (p < 0.001); whereas obese children had increased WC (p < 0.001) and TG (p = 0.049).Conclusion: The main finding of this study is that Yemeni children are at potential risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and prediabetes despite their low prevalences. These results highlight the need for early identification and close monitoring of children at risk of later Type 2 DM as an important primary care strategy that can effectively prevent or delay the onset of such condition.Keywords: metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, school-aged children

Purpose: To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of methanol extracts of peduncles, flowers and spathes of Pandanus odoratissimus L. inflorescence in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.Methods: The animals were randomly assigned to 9 groups (3 animals per group) and treated orally for 10 consecutive days. Group 1 served as normal control and received distilled water (1 ml/kg); groups 2 - 4 received methanol extracts of peduncle, flower, and spathes of P. odoratissimus L. (500 mg/kg), respectively, in the absence of acetaminophen (APAP); group 5 served as hepatotoxic control and received APAP (3 g/kg) on days 1 and 2; group 6 served as standard treatment group and received silymarin (100 mg/kg) + 3 g/kg APAP on days 1 and 2; groups 7 - 9 received methanol extracts of peduncle, flower, and spathes of P. odoratissimus L. (500 mg/kg) respectively + 3 g/kg APAP on days 1 and 2. Serum enzyme activities (AST, ALT, ALP) and total bilirubin were determined. Histopathological examinations of the liver were also carried out.Results: The methanol extract of the peduncle alleviated the liver damage induced by APAP as evident by the improved histopathology picture similar to that of silymarin which presented with only mild hydropic and fatty changes. The extract also reduced the liver enzymes - AST, ALT and ALP - by 42, 50 and 59 %, respectively (p < 0.05), but the reduction (32 %) in total bilirubin was not significant 32 %. On the other hand, the flower extract only lowered AST and ALP by 31 and 48 % (p < 0.05), respectively, while the reduction in ALT and total bilirubin by 33 and 18 % respectively, was not significant.Conclusion: P. odoratissimus L. peduncle has potential hepatoprotective activity against APAPinduced hepatotoxicity in guinea pigs.Keywords: Pandanus odoratissimus L., Peduncle, Flowers, Hepatoprotection, Acetaminophen, Guinea pigs

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperglycaemic activity of methanol extract of Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophyllaceae in glucose-loaded normal rabbits.Methods: The animals were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 5) and treated with a single oral dose. Group 1 served as normal control group and received distilled water; group 2 served as hyperglycaemic control; group 3 was treated with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, aqueous suspension) and served as reference standard; group 4 received methanol extract of Tribulus terrestris L. (250 mg/kg). Groups 3 and 4 were orally treated with glucose (5 g/kg) after 1 h of drug and extract administration, respectively. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was determined prior to (0 h) and at 30 min, 1, 2 and 3 h after dosing for acute toxicity study.Results: On comparing within groups, a single dose of the methanol extract of Tribulus terrestris L. lowered FBG to levels comparable to that of glibenclamide (36 vs. 55 %), and reaching the initial level (0 h) at 2 h. FBG were significantly (p < 0.05) lowered at 2 and 3 h in both glibenclamide (45.5 and 56.9 %) and extract (45.7 and 52.7 %) groups as compared with their respective glucose levels at 0.5 h. On the other hand, on comparing between groups, both glibenclamide and methanol extract significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) lowered the rise in blood glucose at 1 h (33.9 and 22.5 %), 2 h (62.8 and 59.16 %), and 3 h (64.6 and 57.1 %) with respect to the hyperglycaemic control group.Conclusion: The methanol extract of the aerial parts of Tribulus terrestris L. possesses potential antihyperglycaemic activity in glucose loaded normal rabbits. Further studies on various organic solvents fractions and isolated compounds from this plant are required.Keywords: Tribulus terrestris L., Zygophyllaceae, Anti-hyperglycaemic activity, Fasting blood glucose, Acute toxicity

This study demonstrates the extent of the in vivo inhibitory action of two levels of dietary sorghum tannins on rabbit digestive enzymes as well as mineral absorption. Addition of low-tannin (1.4% catechin equivalent) sorghum grains to the animals diet did not significantly change growth rate, food consumption, or feed conversion ratio. However, addition of high-tannin (3.5% catechin equivalent) sorghum grains significantly reduced their live body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and slightly increased food consumption with respect to the control. The activities of α-amylase, trypsin and lipase in digesta obtained from the upper part of the small intestine were inhibited in animals fed on sorghum grains. Inclusion of low- and high-tannin sorghum grains inhibited α-amylase by 37% and 77%, trypsin by 22% and 56% and lipase by 6% and 43%, respectively. Estimation of apparent calcium and magnesium absorption revealed a decrease in the calcium, but not magnesium, absorption only in animals fed high-tannin sorghum grains. Our in vivo results show a significant effect for ingested dietary sorghum tannins on their first target i.e. the digestive tract, as well as indicating though crudely (increased corrected liver weight) the possible toxic effect of sorghum tannin. The lack of toxicity in animals fed low-tannin sorghum grains may suggest the existence of a threshold-limit.