The cardioprotective effects of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (flaxseed lignan) against cafeteria diet-induced cardiac fibrosis and vascular injury in rats: an insight into apelin/AMPK/FOXO3a signaling pathways.

Fast food is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Apelin, the endogenous adipokine, can protect against cardiovascular disease via activating its receptor, APJ. Concurrently, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), a flaxseed lignan extract (FLE), showed a therapeutic impact on atherosclerosis.

Ameliorative effect of taurine-chloramine in azathioprine-induced testicular damage; a deeper insight into the mechanism of protection.

Background: The male reproductive system is a sensitive and intricate process that can be distressed following exposure to various toxicants. Therapeutic drugs, especially chemotherapeutics, can also adversely affect male fertility by instigating hormonal changes leading to testicular cells injury. Azathioprine (AZA) is an effective anticancer drug, but some cases of testicular toxicity have been reported.

Synergistic effect of carnosine on browning of adipose tissue in exercised obese rats; a focus on circulating irisin levels.

The recent appreciation of the energy burning capacity of brown adipose tissue turns it to an attractive target for anti-obesity therapy. We sought to evaluate the effect of L-carnosine on browning of white adipose tissue in exercised obese rats. Sixty adult male Wistar albino rats, 7-8 week-old weighing 130-150 g, were allocated into six groups; with 10 rats in each, for an experimentation period of 12 weeks: (i) normal control rats fed a standard fat diet (SFD/control), (ii) normal control rats fed a standard diet and injected with L-carnosine (250 mg/kg, i.

A Novel Role of SIRT1/ FGF-21 in Taurine Protection Against Cafeteria Diet-Induced Steatohepatitis in Rats.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the alarmingly rising clinical problems in the 21st century with no effective drug treatment until now. Taurine is an essential amino acid in humans that proved efficacy as a non-pharmacological therapy in a plethora of diseases; however, its impact on NAFLD remains elusive. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the protective mechanism of taurine in experimental steatohepatitis induced by junk food given as cafeteria-diet (CAF-D) in male albino rats.

Hypoglycemic and pancreatic protective effects of Portulaca oleracea extract in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Background: Diabetes is a major public health concern. In spite of continuous new drug development to treat diabetes, herbal remedies remain a potential adjunct therapy to maintain better glycemic control while also imparting few side-effects. Portulaca oleracea has been traditionally used to manage several diseases due to the anti-oxidant and anti-atherogenic effects it imparts.