Antioxidant effects of maslinic acid in livers, hearts and kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: effects on kidney function.

Studies indicate that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress triggers the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications in diabetes. Accordingly, we hypothesized that maslinic acid (MA) prevents these complications due to its antioxidant properties. We, therefore, investigated the effects of 5-week MA treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats on anti-oxidative status of cardiac, hepatic and renal tissues as well as on kidney function.

Effects of Syzygium aromaticum-derived triterpenes on postprandial blood glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats following carbohydrate challenge.

Purpose: Recent reports suggest that the hypoglycaemic effects of the triterpenes involve inhibition of glucose transport in the small intestine. Therefore, the effects of Syzygium spp-derived triterpenes oleanolic acid (OA) and maslinic acid (MA) were evaluated on carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes in STZ-induced diabetic rats and consequences on postprandial hyperglycaemia after carbohydrate loading.

Methods: We determined using Western blot analysis the expressions of α-amylase and α-glucosidase and glucose transporters SGLT1 and GLUT2 in the small intestine intestines isolated from diabetic rats treated with OA/MA for 5 weeks.

Cytotoxicity of fumonisin B1, diethylnitrosamine, and catechol on the SNO esophageal cancer cell line.

Mycotoxins that commonly contaminate staple food grains pose a health hazard to animals and humans. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides, causes equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema and has been implicated in the etiology of esophageal cancer (EC) in the Transkei, South Africa. Various studies have indicated that nitrosamines induce EC, and F.