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The seed powder of desert rose was orally supplemented in the diet to hypercholesterolemic male rats for 8 weeks to test its effect as an antioxidant and hypolipidemic. Eighteen rats were divided into three groups (n=6); the first group was the negative untreated control group, the second group was fed 2% cholesterol in the diet to induce hypercholesterolemia (positive control) and the third group was fed 2% cholesterol and cotreated with 100 mg/kg body weight desert rose seed. The positive control group showed a significant increase in lipid peroxide, lipid profile parameters, liver enzymes, and kidney function parameters and a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes; glutathione reduced (GSH), serum glutathione reductase (GR) and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the serum and kidney and liver tissue homogenate. Furthermore, liver, kidney, heart and testes tissues showed pathological changes compared with that of the negative control group. Treating the hypercholesterolemic rats with desert rose seeds for 8 weeks ameliorated the antioxidant enzyme activity, liver and kidney functions, and decreased lipid peroxidation. It was also restored the histology of the studied organs to their normal state. The desert rose seeds powder has hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity on hypercholesterolemic male rats. Desert rose seeds have also improved the tissues of the target organs in hypercholesterolemic rats under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare the ameliorative effect of Nigella sativa and propolis methanol extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats and treating diabetic nephropathy. Forty male Albino rats were divided into four groups; the first group was the negative control fed standard diet. The other 30 rats were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes by a single intravenous injection and then divided equally into three groups; the second group was the positive diabetic control; the third and the fourth groups were treated orally with 20% w/w Nigella sativa seeds methanol extract and propolis methanol extract (20% w/w), respectively. The rats of the second group showed increased glucose levels and lipid peroxide accompanied with reduction in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase enzyme activities compared with the negative control. Carboxymethyl lysine, interleukin-6, and immunoglobulins were also increased as a result of diabetes. Kidney function parameters were also elevated, while potassium and sodium levels were decreased. Moreover, tissues of kidney and pancreas showed severe histopathological changes. Treating the diabetic rats with Nigella sativa and propolis methanol extract in the third and fourth groups, respectively, ameliorated all altered biochemical and pathological examinations approaching the negative control. Propolis was more effective than Nigella sativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver disease is the major cause of serious health problem leading to morbidity and mortality worldwide and the problem has increased in search for hepatotherapeutic agents from plants. The present study was designed to compare the probable hepatoprotective activity of olive oil and N. sativa oil on CCl4 induced liver damage in male rats. Methods: Forty males of a new model of albino rats (Wistar strain) (175-205 g) were divided into four groups. The 1st Group (G1) was the negative control group, the remaining rats were injected with CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight) with equal amount of olive oil on the 1st and 4th day of every week for 4 weeks. The 2nd group (G2) was the positive control, the 3rd group (G3) and the fourth group (G4) were treated orally with N. sativa oil and olive oils using stomach tube. Results: The positive control group showed an increase in hepatic enzymes, total bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid, lipid peroxide total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoproteins, interleukin-6, and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, a decrease in total protein and albumin an when compared with negative control group. Histology of the CCl4 treated group revealed inflammation and damage of liver cells. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with olive oil and N. sativa oil showed a significant improvement in all biochemical tests compared with the positive CCl4 control group. In addition, the liver tissues of olive oil treated group showed mild improvement in inflammatory infiltration and in N. sativa oil treated group showed normal hepatocytes with no evidence of inflammation. Conclusion: This study revealed that olive oil and N. sativa oil have a protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats. Nigella sativa oil was more effective than olive oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to test the protective role of natural bee honey against melamine toxicity in the kidney of male albino rats. The dietary supplementation of melamine at a dose of 20,000 ppm for 28 days induced renal dysfunction, as reflected by a significant increase in kidney function parameters (urea, creatinine, and uric acid) and an increase in potassium levels. In addition, a decrease in catalase and glutathione-S-transferase and an increase in lipid peroxide in the kidney tissue homogenate were also observed. Histological changes in the melamine-treated group revealed hyperplasia and damage in kidney cells and the accumulation of melamine crystals in kidney tissues. Honey treatment for 28 days in rats concurrently administered melamine at a dose of 2.5 g/kg body weight for 28 days improved the kidney function, increased antioxidant enzymes, and decreased lipid peroxide levels. The morphology of the kidney cells of the melamine-fed rats was also improved as a result of honey treatment. In conclusion, this study revealed that natural bee honey protects the kidney against the adverse effects induced by melamine toxicity in male albino rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics are an integral part in our daily life activities and it is difficult to conceive how we could function without them. Burning or chemical treatments of these plastic materials destroys the environment and have many dangerous effects on, water air and human health. Thus, other sources of plastic (biodegradable plastic) must be introduced. Under unfavorable growth conditions Poly β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is accumulated intracellular by many bacteria and the principal enzyme for the degradation of PHB is PHB depolymerase. A number of thermophilic actinomycetes have been screened for PHB degradation on agar plats. All these isolates were recovered from soil, sand and wastewater samples on starch nitrate agar at incubation temperature of 45. Five isolates (50%) out of 10 showed degradation activities, detected by the diameter of the clear zone. The Actinomycete isolate MM10 was the most PHB degrader and it was identified using morphological, physiological and biochemical characters. According to 16SrRNA analysis, it was identified as Streptomyces lydicusMM10. Growth at 450C, in minimal medium (pH7.0) containing glucose and0.3% PHB as enzyme inducer, enhanced enzyme production and maximum activity was obtained after 24 h of incubation. The PHB depolymerase was precipitated and purified using column chromatography. The optimum temperature and pH of the pure enzyme were 45°C and pH 8, respectively. However, production of bioplastics is cost effective as compared to synthetic plastics they were non-toxic and completely biodegradable by some actinomycete isolates.© 2015 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of Nigella sativa oil against the adverse effects of tartrazine on male rats. 18 albino rats were divided randomly into four groups (n = 6). The first (G1) is the negative control, the second group (G2) is the positive control received 10 mg/kg b.w. tartrazine in the diet and the third (G3) received the same dose of tartrazine as in G2 and co-treated with Nigella sativa oil for 8 weeks. Tartrazine decreased total protein, antioxidants and high density lipoproteins, whereas increased liver enzyme, kidney function parameters, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in the positive control group. In addition, it caused pathological changes in the tissues of liver, kidney, testes and stomach. Treating tartrazine supplemented rats of G3 with Nigella sativa oil for 8 weeks significantly improved all biochemical parameters and restored the tissues of kidney, stomach, testes and liver to normal. It could be concluded that N. sativa oil succeeded in protecting male rats against the adverse conditions resulted from tartrazine administration.

Background: Starch-degrading amylase enzyme is important in biotechnological applications as food, fermentation, textile, paper and pharmaceutical purposes. The aim of current study to isolate alkaline thermostable α-amylase bacteria and then study the composition of medium and culture conditions to optimize cells growth and a-amylase production., Materials and Methods: Thermophilic amylase producing bacterium was isolated from local hot water-springs in Gazan city Saudi Arabia., Results: Phylogenetic analysis of 16 S rRNA sequence for the strain revealed that the strain have the same sequence of Bacillus subtilis . Maximum amylase production was observed, when B. subtilis cultured in medium containing starch at concentration 0.5%, and 10 g/L peptones as nitrogen source at pH 8.5 in when it was incubated for 48 h at 45°C., Conclusion: An amylase-producing bacterium were isolated from hot-spring water and was identified as B. subtilis . Amylase produced from B.subtilis had optimum temperature 45°C and pH 8.5 in shaking media.

Background: Liver disease is the major cause of serious health problem leading to morbidity and mortality worldwide and the problem has increased in search for hepatotherapeutic agents from plants. The present study was designed to compare the probable hepatoprotective activity of olive oil and N. sativa oil on CCl 4 induced liver damage in male rats., Methods: Forty males of a new model of albino rats (Wistar strain) (175-205 g) were divided into four groups. The 1st Group (G1) was the negative control group, the remaining rats were injected with CCl 4 (1 ml/kg body weight) with equal amount of olive oil on the 1st and 4th day of every week for 4 weeks. The 2nd group (G2) was the positive control, the 3rd group (G3) and the fourth group (G4) were treated orally with N. sativa oil and olive oils using stomach tube., Results: The positive control group showed an increase in hepatic enzymes, total bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid, lipid peroxide total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoproteins, interleukin-6, and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, a decrease in total protein and albumin an when compared with negative control group. Histology of the CCl 4 treated group revealed inflammation and damage of liver cells. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with olive oil and N. sativa oil showed a significant improvement in all biochemical tests compared with the positive CCl 4 control group. In addition, the liver tissues of olive oil treated group showed mild improvement in inflammatory infiltration and in N. sativa oil treated group showed normal hepatocytes with no evidence of inflammation., Conclusion: This study revealed that olive oil and N. sativa oil have a protective effect against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in male rats. Nigella sativa oil was more effective than olive oil.