Objective: To compare the anti-inflammatory effects of berberine and dexamethasone in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. Methods: This experimental controlled study was conducted in April, 2016 at Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Twenty- four healthy guinea pigs were selected for study. Six of these were assigned randomly in each group; normal control, ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized, berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups. Airway inflammation was induced on day 0 and 14 by OVA injections via peritoneal route and by inhalation on 25th, 26th and 27th day in each group excluding the normal control. Berberine (1.8 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (20 mg/kg) were introduced via peritoneal route 30 minutes earlier to each trial in berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups respectively. Results: Total leukocyte count (TLC) in blood sample of berberine treated group (9990±1346 mm3) and dexamethasone treated group (9054±1432 mm3) was significantly low than OVA sensitized group (14261±3151 mm3). TLC of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in berberine treated group (384±26 mm3) and dexamethasone treated group (306±86) mm3 was significantly low than OVA sensitized group (598±110 mm3). Eosinophil percentage in blood of berberine treated (21.50±3.08) and dexamethasone treated (13.33±5.65) groups were significantly low than OVA sensitized group (30.33±6.74), while eosinophil percentage in BAL fluid was 26.00±6.69 and 21.00±7.46 in berberine treated and dexamethasone treated groups respectively with significant difference from OVA sensitized group value of 40.00±7.79. Conclusion: Berberine and dexamethasone both had reduced TLC and eosinophil percentage in both blood and BAL fluid as compared to OVA sensitized group but berberine is less effective than dexamethasone. Keywords: berberine, dexamethasone, asthma, airway inflammation How to cite: Zaidi T.S., Kausar R., Malik M., Sarfraz J., Shafiq A., Chiragh S. Comparison of berberine and dexamethasone on blood and bronchial inflammatory cells of ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. Esculapio 202;17(01):34-38

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To assess and compare anti-inflammatory effect of pioglitazone and gemfibrozil by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in high fat fed non-diabetic rats. METHODS: A comparative animal study was conducted at the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan in which 27 adult healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were used. The rats were divided into three groups. Hyperlipidemia was induced in all three groups by giving hyperlipidemic diet containing cholesterol 1.5%, coconut oil 8.0% and sodium cholate 1.0%. After four weeks, Group A (control) was given distilled water, Group B was given pioglitazone 10mg/kg body weight and Group C was given gemfibrozil 10mg/kg body weight as single morning dose by oral route for four weeks. CRP was

<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p> <p><strong>Background and Objective</strong>: A global increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is a fundamental component in the pathogenesis of DM Ajwa dates are known to have a high antioxidant content, especially in their seeds. Hence this study was designed to determine the preventive effects of Ajwa date fruit on alloxan-induced diabetes in an experimental rat model.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> This experimental study was conducted at the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups with eight animals in each. Rats in group A were normal control, whereas rats in group B were induced with intraperitoneal alloxan (160 mg/kg body weight) to develop diabetes. Groups C, D, and E rats were fed on a diet supplemented with Ajwa flesh, seed, and whole Ajwa respectively for 1 week. Blood and urine glucose levels were measured on days 0, 7 (pre-alloxan) and 11, 14, 19 (post-alloxan). Serum insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) for &beta;-cell function (HOMA-&beta;), and insulin resistance (HOMA[1]IR) were estimated terminally.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Diabetes was induced successfully in animals of all experimental groups except the normal control group. Rats of the Ajwa-seed group (D) showed relative resistance to diabetes induction with three non-diabetic rats on day 19. In group E, rats had lower blood sugar levels than rats in group C (p = 0.010). Serum insulin, HOMA-&beta; and HOMA-IR, revealed partial beta cells restoration in the experimental animals of groups D and C. Insulin resistance was significantly higher, despite the highest insulin level (3.77 &micro;IU/ml; p value &lt;0.001) in group C.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Ajwa date seed powder appears to provide relative protection against the development of diabetes in rats induced by alloxan.</p>

To assess the effect of low and high dose of glycyrrhizin on body weight, fasting blood sugar level (FBSL), serum insulin and glycemic indices in high fat diet induced type 2 diabetic rats. METHODS:In this experimental study with intervention period of 34 weeks, rats were grouped into four experimental groups; Group-A: normal control; Group-B: diabetic control; Group-C: glycyrrhizin-150 and Group-D: glycyrrhizin-300. Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by giving high fat diet with injection dexamethasone. At 32 weeks, body weight, FBSL, serum insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Homeostatic Model Assessment of beta cells (HOMA-β) and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) were estimated. Two experimental groups received glycyrrhizin 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg per oral per day till completion of 34 weeks in addition to the high fat diet. At 34 weeks all the parameters were re-estimated. RESULTS: It was observed that both doses of glycyrrhizin significantly reduced FBSL and insulin levels in group-C (95.00±8.23 mg/dl, 671.60±55.51 µIU/ml) and group-D (94.00±6.27 mg/dl, 675.00±44.96 µIU/ml) as compared to group-B (236.10±13.26 mg/dl, 1052.80±37.82 µIU/ml) [p-value<0.001] at 34 weeks. HOMA-IR decreased [group-C (157.62±19.39) and group-D (157.03±18.21) vs group-B (613.79±49.91)] whereas HOMA-β [group-C (2498.23±299.58) and group-D (2526.24±150.65) vs group-B (1546.87±106.81)] and QUICKI increased [group-C (0.208±0.00) and group-D (0.208±0.002) vs group-B (0.185±0.001)] (P-value<0.001). Body weight decreased insignificantly in group-C (344.00±30.21mg) (P-value>0.05) but significantly in group-D (293.20±42.54) as compared to group-B (372.00±24.03) [P-value<0.001]. CONCLUSION: Glycyrrhizin effectively improves glycaemic control in rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.