Aims: This study investigated the antioxidant, hypolipidemic and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory effects of flavonoid-rich fraction of H. thebaica on fat-fed obese wistar rats. Study Design: Twenty-five rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each: Control (standard diet, untreated), Obese control (Fat-fed, untreated), Standard control (Fat-fed, treated with 70 mg/kg Atorvastatin), Groups 4 and 5 (Fat-fed, treated with 100 and 250 mg kg-1 flavonoid-rich fraction, respectively). The rats were given high fat diet to induce obesity, after which treatment was administered for fourteen (14) days, and on the 15th day, rats were sacrificed and blood samples collected. Results: From the results, induction of obesity significantly (P<0.05) increased body weight, some lipoproteins, ACE activity, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels, while HDL cholesterol and malondialdehyde levels decreased. Treatment of obese rats with the standard drug, atorvastatin and flavonoid-rich fraction of H. thebaica significantly (P<0.05) decreased ACE activity, total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol, while HDL cholesterol and malondialdehyde increased. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that the flavonoid-rich fraction of H. thebaica is hypolipidemic, possesses antioxidant activities, and may contain potent ACE inhibitors.

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Background: Chromium is an essential micronutrient which is required for the normal functioning of insulin and regulation of blood sugar levels. It acts as a vital antioxidant for maintaining insulin homeostasis. In diabetes mellitus, the free radical production is increased and levels of antioxidants like chromium, vanadium, selenium and manganese are reduced. Aim: To study the level of serum chromium level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with glycemic control. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty individuals were enrolled in this study, classified into 60 type II diabetes mellitus (type II DM) patients and 60 apparently health as control group. Serum chromium and Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) level were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry and Ichroma. Results: The results showed significant decrease in serum chromium level in type II DM patients (0.0151±0.005) when compared with healthy group (0.122±0.691) with p-value (0.002). In addition to that there was significant decrease in mean concentration of serum chromium level in controlled diabetic patients (0.0206± 0.003) when compared with uncontrolled diabetic patients (0.0120±0.002) with P-value (0.04).Also there was significant positive correlation between chromium level and Body Mass Index (BMI) (R-value 0.450, P-value 0.014), and significant negative correlation between chromium level and age (R-value- 0.660, P-value 0.011) , a significant strong negative correlation between chromium level and HbA1c (R-value -0.843, P-value 0.0260). Conclusion: The study concluded that, serum chromium level is significantly decrease in type II DM.

consequences that lead to an increase in risk of atherosclerosis in patients with epilepsy, several studies have reported that the patients commonly used antiepileptic drugs like phenytoin, and carbamazepine increase serum total Cholesterol, High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C) Low Density lipoprotein Cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels and Triglyceride (TG) .The aim of this study to assess and compare serum lipid profile of young adult patients treated by anti-epileptic drugs (phenytoin, oxcarbazepine and valproic acid) . Materials and Methods a cross-sectional study was conducted in Aljazeera state. Epileptic patients were of recruited. and taking antiepileptic drugs for more than six months and on regular follow up; approximately 120 patients on commonly used antiepileptic drugs (40 on phenytoin, 40 on oxcarbazepine, 40 on valproic Acid). Age and sex matching 40 controls were taken. our results show significant difference in the of mean TC, TG, HDL, and LDL-C levels in the group receiving phenytoin for more than six months when compared with control group P value (0.00) for all lipid profile. Also significant difference between the mean of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C levels in the group receiving oxcarbazepine for more than six months when compared with control P value (0.00 ) for all lipid profile. From the present study we concluded that CYP enzyme inducer anti-epileptic medicines like phenytoin and oxcarbazepine is strongly associated with increased levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG, where asvalproate showed no significant change. Therefore, the serum cholesterol level should be regularly monitored in patients undergoing. Therapy with inducer anti-epileptic medicines.

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