Background/Objectives: optimization of the therapeutic efficacy of antidiabetic agents is still a great challenge in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and attention is becoming more and more focused on the use of adjunctive agents that help target the drug action beyond the classic glycemic target. This study examined the effect of co-administration of an Artemisia herba-alba Asso (Asteraceae) aqueous extract on the glucose-lowering effect of dapagliflozin, a sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Methods: qualitative phytochemical screening and total phenolic and total flavonoid content were used to characterize the aqueous preparation. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into eight groups (10 rats each): four healthy and four diabetic rats induced with streptozotocin (STZ). Vehicle control, oral administration of an aqueous A. herba-alba preparation (0.39 g/kg twice daily), dapagliflozin (0.143 mg/kg/day), or a combination of both was given for 30 days. At baseline and days 7, 14, 21, and 30, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured by nephelometry. Parallel fasting blood glucose (FBG) was monitored. Results: the diabetic animals treated with the combination regimen showed the greatest and most sustained decrease in HbA1c (from 4.42 ± 0.40% at baseline to 3.44 ± 0.17% at day 30; p < 0.001) and the greatest decrease in FBG (from 186.0 to 122.2 mg/dL). A. herba-alba monotherapy had little effect on HbA1c and had minimal effect on FBG (214.9 to 217.6 mg/dL); dapagliflozin monotherapy had a modest effect on HbA1c. The untreated diabetic controls (n = 10) showed a progressive increase in HbA1c from 4.45 ± 0.60% at 72 h post-induction to 11.90 ± 0.99% by day 30 (p < 0.001), consistent with delayed hemoglobin glycation relative to the rise in blood glucose. The repeated-measures ANOVA showed a highly significant interaction between time and treatment (p < 0.001). Conclusions: this study showed that the phytochemically defined aqueous A. herba-alba preparation is a beneficial adjunct to SGLT2 inhibitor therapy, an effect not observed with either treatment alone.
Morus alba, member of the Moraceae family, is a perennial tree utilized in folk medicine, preparing the modern drug, and considered the main food for silkworms. However, data on chemical content in the leaves is still limited; the main objective of this study is to detect the presence and determine the concentration of different polyphenolic constituents in the leaves of the Morus alba plant by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and evaluate the cytotoxic effect of ethyl acetate extract of this plant on human breast cancer (AMJ-13) cell line. Phytochemical analysis of the Morus alba leaves ethyl acetate extract led to identifying and quantification of six polyphenolic constituents designated as phenolic a
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Pesticide poisoning is a serious global public health issue and is responsible for a sizable number of annual fatalities. This study was designed to examine the potentially harmful effects of adult rats being exposed to imidacloprid (IMD) as a nanoparticle by determining the chronic effect of inhalation of (5,10 and 20) mg/kg/b.w. of nano-imidacloprid for a duration of 60 days. The most important biochemical parameters of the serum liver function parameters were aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase ALP, kidney function [blood urea, creatinine, and urea], and oxidative stress parameters (MDA, GSH, and CAT) in all treated groups when
Self-Assertion is the individual ability to express any emotion well, except the anxiety. The decrease of the individuals asserting behavior makes them face many difficulties that prevent their social adjustment. Moreover it reflexes many negative behavioral and physical cases. The individual, who fails to express his or her negative feelings in required situations, feels with dissatisfaction, loneliness, depression, anxiety, social anxiety, conflict, and psychological disorder.
Accordingly, the importance of this study is represented in studying the self-assertion and studying the university students who reflect the strength of society.
The following are the two aims of the study:
1. Construct an asserting behavior scale.
2.
Fusarium wilt causes economic losses on tomatoes every year. Thus, a variety of chemicals have been used to combat the disease. Pesticides have been effective in managing the disease, but they keep damaging the environment. Recently, eco-friendly approaches have been used to control plant diseases. This study aimed to achieve an environmentally safe solution using biological agents to induce systemic resistance in tomato plants to control Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) in the greenhouse. The pathogen (FOL) has been molecularly confirmed and the biological agents have been isolated from the Iraqi environment. The effectiveness of the biological agents has been tested and confirmed. Results showed t
... Show MoreThis study aims to develop a thermosensitive mucoadhesive periodontal in situ gel of secnidazole for local release of drug for treatment of periodontitis, in order to increase the drug residence time and to increase patient compliance while lowering the side effects of the drug.
Cold method was used to prepare 30 formulas of secnidazole periodontal in situ gel, using different concentrations of thermosensitive polymers (poloxamer407 alone or in combination with poloxamer 188) and methyl cellulose (MC ) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M )in different concentrations used as mucoadhesive polymer and the resultant formulations were subjected to several tests such as gelation temperature GT, appearance and pH value. The fo
... Show MoreWater pollution has created a critical threat to the environment. A lot of research has been done recently to use surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect multiple pollutants in water. This study aims to use Ag colloid nanoflowers as liquid SERS enhancer. Tri sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) was investigated as a pollutant using liquid SERS based on colloidal Ag nanoflowers. The chemical method was used to synthesize nanoflowers from silver ions. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were employed to characterize the silver nanoflowers. This nanoflowers SERS action in detecting Na3PO4 was reported and analyzed
... Show MoreBackground: Dyslipidemia is defined as an abnormally high level of various lipids in the blood. It is considered a major risk for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Genetic susceptibility can have a significant influence on the development and progression of dyslipidemia. ApoB-100 R3500Q mutation and ApoE variants are among those genetic risks for dyslipidemia. This study aims to assess the possible contribution of ApoB and ApoE variants on lipid profile among a group of early-onset ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients in comparison to a group of controls. Methods: Forty patients with dyslipidemia and early-onset IHD without chronic conditions likely to cause derangement of lipid levels were recruited to this case-control study
... Show MoreIn this study, tin oxide (SnO2) and mixed with cadmium oxide (CdO) with concentration ratio of (5, 10, 15, 20)% films were deposited by spray pyrolysis technique onto glass substrates at 300ºC temperature. The structure of the SnO2:CdO mixed films have polycrystalline structure with (110) and (101) preferential orientations. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) show the films are displayed granular structure. It was found that the grain size increases with increasing of mixed concentration ratio. The transmittance in visible and NIR region was estimated for SnO2:CdO mixed films. Direct optical band gap was estimated for SnO2 and SnO2 mixed CdO and show a decrease in the energy gap with increasing mixing ratio. From Hall measurement, it was fou
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