Madeha N. Al-Seeni

Efficiency of Barley Bran and Oat Bran in Ameliorating Blood Lipid Profile and the Adverse Histological Changes in Hypercholesterolemic Male Rats

The efficiency of oat bran and barley bran in lowering the induced hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia in blood of male Albino rats (Rattus rattus) was studied. Twenty rats were divided into four groups each consisted of five rats and fed the specified test diets for eight weeks. The first group (G1) is the negative group which was fed basal diet, the second group (G2) was fed 1.0% cholesterol, was the third group (G3) fed 1.0% cholesterol and 10% oats bran, and the fourth group (G4) was fed 1.0% cholesterol and 10% barley bran. Feeding rats on 1% cholesterol significantly increased serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein and triglyceride and decreased serum high density lipoprotein. Furthermore, enzyme activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase was increased, and lipid peroxide was increased, whereas catalase and glutathione-S-transferase were decreased. Kidney functions parameters in the cholesterol supplemented group were elevated compared with the negative control. In addition, histological alteration in kidney, liver, heart, and testes was observed, compared with the negative control. Hypercholesterolemic rats supplemented with oat bran and barley bran showed significant decrease in lipid parameters, significant increase in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, improved antioxidant enzyme, and improved histopathology of kidney, liver, heart, and testes. In conclusion, both oat bran and barley bran had protective effects against induced hyperlipidemia and improved histological alterations. Oat bran appeared more efficient than barley bran in lowering the lipid profile levels in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Mineral content and microbiological examination of some white cheese in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during summer 2008

Different local and exported white cheese samples were collected from different markets in Jeddah during September 2008. Trace and heavy metals including Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe and Cd were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration of the tested metals was in the range, Fe(++)>Zn(+++)>Mn(++)>Pb(++)>Cu(++)>Cd(++). The mean concentration of 7.63, 7.19, 0.5, 0.47, 0.16 and 0.14 μg/g was recorded for Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu and Cd, respectively. The concentration of iron ranged from 3.5 to 11.9 μg/g, zinc from 3.4 to 10.5, manganese from 0.12 to 1.0, lead from 0.14 to 1.14, and copper from 0.09 to 0.22. Yeasts and fungi were counted on Sabouraud and Potato Dextrose media and incubation was carried out at 25°C for 7 and 5 days, respectively. Yeast count and fungi count of cheese were ranged from 0.1 to 0.44CFU/g and from 0.123 to 1.11 CFU/g, respectively. Three out of 20 samples of cheese were contaminated with toxigenic fungi with 5% contamination level. Aflatoxin G1 was recorded in three samples using immunoadsorbent column chromatography with a range from 7 to 13 ppm.

The Antidiabetic Activity of Nigella sativa and Propolis on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes and Diabetic Nephropathy in Male Rats

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.

Purification and characterization of gamma poly glutamic acid from newly Bacillus licheniformis NRC20.

γ-poly glutamic acid (γ-PGA) has received considerable attention for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. γ-PGA from the newly isolate Bacillus licheniformis NRC20 was purified and characterized using diffusion distance agar plate, mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography. All analysis indicated that γ-PGA is a homopolymer composed of glutamic acid. Its molecular weight was determined to be 1266 kDa. It was composed of L- and D-glutamic acid residues. An amplicon of 3050 represents the γ-PGA-coding genes was obtained, sequenced and submitted in genbank database. Its amino acid sequence showed high similarity with that obtained from B. licheniformis strains. The bacterium NRC 20 was independent of L-glutamic acid but the polymer production enhanced when cultivated in medium containing L-glutamic acid as the sole nitrogen source. Finally we can conclude that γ-PGA production from B. licheniformis NRC20 has many promised applications in medicine, industry and nanotechnology.

Nigella sativa oil protects against tartrazine toxicity in male rats

Graphical abstract

Comparison between the Hypolipidemic Activity of Parsley and Carob in Hypercholesterolemic Male Rats

Hypercholesterolemia is commonly associated with obesity that leads to heart diseases and diabetes. The hepatocardioprotective activity of parsley and carob methanol extract was tested in hypercholesterolemic male rats. Twenty-four male albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 6). Group 1 was the negative control group fed with fat rich diet, group 2 (G2) was hypercholesterolemic rats fed with fat rich diet with 2% cholesterol, and group 3 and group 4 (G3 and G4) were hypercholesterolemic rats supplemented with 2% cholesterol and cotreated with 20% w/w parsley seed methanol extract and 20% w/w carob legume methanol extract, respectively. The experiment was conducted for eight weeks. The positive hypercholesterolemic rats showed significant increase in serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-mb, liver function enzymes, and decrease in the high density lipoproteins (HDL). Moreover, heart and liver tissues were ameliorated and nearly restored their normal appearance. It could be concluded that both parsley and carob extracts supplementations have a protective effect against hyperlipidemia and improved the histological alteration in heart and liver tissues. The methanol extract of parsley appeared to be more efficient than that of carob in lowering hypercholesterolemia.

Assessment of Flavonoids as Rutin for Detoxification of T-2 Toxin

Abstract El-Sawi, N.M. and Al-Seeni, M.N. 2009. Assessment of flavonoids as rutin for detoxification of T-2 toxin. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 57–60. To assess the efficacy of rutin, a flavonoid, for detoxifying T-2 toxin, 30 male albino rats were divided in 3 equal groups. Group 1 served as control. Rats in groups 2 and 3 were given 0.1 mg/kg bw T-2 toxin and those of group 3 were given 50 mg/kg rutin additionally. Toxin in liver tissue increased TBARs, SOD, GST, total lipids and decreased total thiol and catalase. Similarly there was increased lipid peroxide and decrease in total thiol, GST, hemoglobin and hematocrit value. All these were improved in group 3. The result suggest that rutin may be used as anti oxidant for T-2 toxin in liver of rat.

Assessment of the antioxidant activity of parsley and carob in hypercholesterolemic male rats

Herbal antioxidants have been successfully used to reduce oxidative stress and treat many diseases such as diabetes, obesity and coronary heart diseases. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of carob legume and parsley seed was evaluated in hypercholesterolemic male rats in a study conducted for 8 w. 24 male rats were randomly divided into four 6-rat groups. The 1st group (G1) was fed fat rich diet, the 2nd group (G2) was the hypercholesterolemic positive group fed 2% cholesterol in the fat rich diet, and the 3rd (G3) and the 4th (G4) groups were supplemented with 2% cholesterol in the fat rich diet as in G2 and co-treated with 20 mg/Kg bw parsley seeds methanol extract and carob legume methanol extract, respectively. The G2 hypercholesterolemic rats showed significant increase in serum lipid peroxidation and kidney function, and decrease in antioxidants. While the methanolic extract of parsley and carob extract in G3 and G4, respectively significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and kidney functions, and increased antioxidants. In conclusion, the methanolic extracts of both parsley and carob have an antioxidant activity and a protective effect against oxidative stress. The methanolic extract of parsley seed appeared more efficient than that of carob legumes.

Spore Forming Bacterium from Oil Contaminated Soil as a Source of a Lipase Enzyme with Exogeneous Lipolytic Activity

Twenty two bacterial isolates were obtained from oil contaminated soil, collected from some oil stations in Jeddah. All the obtained bacterial isolates were screened on Tween-Yeast extract medium for lipase production. Three bacterial isolates HM10, HM15 and HM20 showed the highest growth and lipase production agar medium, thus they were grown in liquid olive oil medium at 120 rpm. Maximum lipase production was obtained by the isolate HM10. The isolate HM10 was characterized and identified through physiological, biochemical tests and culture characteristics in addition to 16S rDNA as Bacillus coagulans. The effects of different factors on the enzyme production were studied. It was found that bacterial growth in medium 4 at initial pH 7.0, containing olive oil and incubation at 37oC for 2 days at 120 rpm were the most favorable conditions for maximum lipase production by the tested isolate. The bacterial isolate was grown using the best culture conditions and lipase was precipitated using 80% of ammonium sulphate, purified using colum chromatography and characterized. The molecular weight was 62 kDa and the maximum enzyme activity was at 50oC and pH 7.0. Presence of K + and Ca ++ ions enhance enzyme activity.

Molecular characterization of some food borne pathogens in soft cheese samples collected from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The growing industrial attention toward rapid methods and the wide use of nucleic acid amplification techniques has led for developing and applying of PCR based methods for food-borne pathogens recognition. In the current study, 20 cheese samples, collected from a local supermarket of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were examined for the presence of metals and some pathogenic bacteria. Cheese content of Na + and K + were found to be higher in fresh cheese than other elements. Cr 2+ , Ni 2+ , Zn 2+ and Al 3+ were detected at low concentrations in cheese. Additionally a multiplex PCR method was developed for detection of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 as the most common cheese borne pathogens. Bacterial enrichment was carried out and bacterial genomic DNA was extracted. A set of primers was designed based on specific genes for Salmonella spp. (invA), L. monocytogenes (prfA) and E. coli O157:H7(eaeA). Additionally, a universal –multiplex PCR based on the highly conserved sequences published on genbank database for the previous genes was used for detecting the previous cheese borne pathogenic bacteria. Three (15 %) out of 20 cheese samples, were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the used method is a promised method, simple, rapid and efficient for detecting pathogenic bacteria in contaminating cheese.