Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was administrated to rats at doses of 0.6 and 1.6 mg/g body weight for 14 days. Body weight and relative liver and kidney weight of rats were significantly increased. On regard to liver functions, the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and <i>γ</i> glutamyle transferase (GGT) significantly increased in the serum, on MSG administration, meanwhile, serum total protein, albumin and serum total bilirubin significantly decreased. MSG had adverse effects on kidney functions as serum urea and serum creatinine were significantly increased. Vitamin C (0.3 mg/g body weight) and vitamin E (0.2 mg/g body weight) co-adminstrated with MSG, significantly restored the body weight and relative liver and kidney weights to control levels. In the presence of vitamin C and vitamin E the activities of ALT and GGT in the serum were also significantly reduced to become comparable with control trail. Consequently, serum total protein, albumin and serum total bilirubin were significantly increased in the serum, while serum urea and serum creatinine were significantly decreased after administration of each vitamin. The results showed that MSG at doses of 0.6 and 1.6 mg/g of body weight may cause an adverse effect on the hepatic and renal functions which might be due to oxidative stress induced by MSG on the liver and renal tissue. Supplementation of vitamin C and vitamin E was capable of ameliorating MSG-induced oxidative stress on hepatic and renal functions

The present study aimed to estimate the individual and total phenols and antioxidant activity of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of three premium quality date varieties (Khalas, Sukkari and Ajwa) from Saudi Arabia. In general, water extract has shown significantly higher contents of total phenols than alcoholic, especially in Ajwa (455.88 and 245.66 mg/100g respectively). However, phenolic profile indicated that Sukkari contained the highest rutin concentration (8.10 mg/kg), whereas, catechin was approximately the same in Sukkari and Ajwa (7.50 and 7.30 mg/kg respectively). Khalas was the highest variety content of caffeic acid (7.40 mg/kg). A significant difference has indicated among extracts and varieties in suppressing lipid peroxidation. Sukkari and Ajwa have reduced the oxidation with 50% at lower concentration in water extract than alcoholic (0.63, 0.70 and 1.60, 1.43 mg/ml respectively). Furthermore, high positive linear correlation was found between total phenols in water (r = 0.96) and alcohol (r = 0.85) extracts and inhibition of lipid oxidation activity. The compounds responsible for the activity were catechin (r = 0.96), and rutin (r = 0.74) in water extract, whereas this correlation decreased in alcoholic extract (r = 0.66) for catechin and very weak (r = 0.38) for rutin. No correlation was found between caffeic acid and lipid peroxidation in both extracts. Similar significant results were obtained with DPPH test, except with Sukari, which has shown no difference between aqueous and alcoholic extracts (4.30, 4.10 mg/ml respectively).

Phenolics are an important constituent of fruit quality because of their contribution to the taste, color and nutritional properties of fruit. This study aimed to determine the level of phenolics in fig. In addition, it is also to study their impact on early atherosclerosis. The used methodology was by feeding 30 hamsters which were grouped into three groups. Each group has equally of 10 hamsters. These three groups were fed standard diet, atherogenic diet, atherogenic diet with dried fig (0.6 gm/ kg body weight). During 8 weeks of this study trial, hamster body weight and its liver weight were measured. Subsequently, blood samples were collected for the following tests which are; total cholesterol level, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HLD), low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) and liver enzymes Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT). The analysed phenolics present at the highest content were gallic acid (30.99 mg per 100 g DW), followed by epigallocatechine (25.44 mg per 100 g DW), caffeine (20.23 mg per 100 g DW), catechine (13.88 mg per 100 g DW), epicatechine (12.48 mg per 100 g DW), rutin (3.26 mg per 100 g DW), epigallocatechine gallate (2.52 mg per 100 g DW). Significant increases in body weight and liver weight of hamsters fed atherogenic diet (P<0.05). On contrary, hamsters fed with fig diet they had insignificant decrease of body weight with significant decrease of their liver weight. Additionally, study has revealed significant increase of total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG among atherogenic diet group (P < 0.05). While hamster group fed with fig in diet showed a significantly decreased in the total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG. The HDL level was improved in the former group. However, liver enzymes (AST), (ALT) were increased significantly among group which was fed by atherogenic diet. But they were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) among those hamsters fed by fig.

No abstract