The present study was designed to evaluate the beneficial synergistic effects of S-allyl Cysteine (SAC) and Taurine (TAU) on hyperglycemia, lipid profile and renal damage markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rats. Experimental T2DM was developed by administering an intraperitoneal single dose of nicotinamide (NA; 230 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/ kg) in adult rats. Control and diabetic rats were treated with SAC (150 mg/kg); TAU (200 mg/ kg) or SAC and TAU (75+100 mg/kg) combination for four weeks. Measurements of traditional markers of kidney toxicity in serum, such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), together with serum cholesterol/triglyceride such as serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) may yield a snapshot of renal damage and lipid profile in NA/STZ-treated rats. The variation in levels of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin and lipid profile was significantly augmented in SAC/TAU treatment group. The diabetic group showed elevated renal injury markers in serum, which were decreased significantly by SAC/TAU treatment. Thus the results of the experiment clearly indicate the potential of the SAC/TAU combination in improving diabetic complications.

PurposeTaurine (2-aminoethane sulfonic acid; C2H7NO3S) is a nonprotein sulfur-containing β-amino acid present in nearly all mammalian tissues and the most ubiquitous free endogenous biomolecule in human cells. Taurine is commonly known as a conditionally essential amino acid because taurine is one of the few amino acids that are not incorporated in protein synthesis. The purpose of this study is to review the existing articles related to taurine and to give an account how useful is taurine to the different body systems. In this thorough overview, taurine is covered in terms of its essentiality, sources, advantages for neonates and the elderly, the effects of taurine deficiency, and the safety and toxicity of taurine supplements.Design/methodology/approachThis is a narrative review into the subject matter. Published articles were searched on different portals like PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubChem etc. The authors also evaluated the availability of taurine in commercially available energy drinks.FindingsThis comprehensive review, presents the potential clinical benefits and functional properties of taurine as a conditionally essential amino acid. Energy drinks containing taurine (and their concentration) are also reported in this review.Originality/valueThis is the first data that the authors are aware of that shows taurine content in a variety of energy drinks on the market.

PurposeRenal failure is an end-stage consequence after persistent hyperglycemia during diabetic nephropathy (DN), and the etiology of DN has been linked to oxidative stress. The purpose of this research was to determine the beneficial synergistic effects of S-Allyl Cysteine (SAC) and Taurine (TAU) on oxidative damage in the kidneys of type 2 diabetic rats induced by hyperglycemia.Design/methodology/approachExperimental diabetes was developed by administering intraperitoneal single dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg) with nicotinamide (NA; 230 mg/kg) in adult rats. Diabetic and control rats were treated with SAC (150 mg/kg), TAU (200 mg/kg) or SAC and TAU combination (75 + 100 mg/kg) for four weeks. The estimation of body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), oxidative stress markers along with kidney histopathology was done to investigate the antidiabetic potential of SAC/TAU in the NA/STZ diabetic group.FindingsThe following results were obtained for the therapeutic efficacy of SAC/TAU: decrease in blood glucose level, decreased level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased levels of GSH, glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT). SAC/TAU significantly modulated diabetes-induced histological changes in the kidney of rats.Originality/valueSAC/TAU combination therapy modulated the oxidative stress markers in the kidney in diabetic rat model and also prevented oxidative damage as observed through histopathological findings.

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