The Open Drug Safety Journal

2013, 4 : 3-10
Published online 2013 November 1. DOI: 10.2174/1876818001304010003
Publisher ID: TODSJ-4-3

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Pharmacogenomics and Biochemical Influences of Walnuts on Diabetic Tissue

Nermin El-Halawany1 , Amal Z Barakat2 , Inas S Ghaly1 and Sahar Ahmed1, *
1 Cell Biology Department, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
2 Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

* Address correspondence to this author at the Cell Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Division, National Research Center., El Buhouth St., postal code 12311, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Tel: (+202) 33371362; Fax: (+202) 33370931; E-mail: selnahta@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Medicinal therapy requires careful assessment of effective treatment offering an acceptable safety over human health. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of walnuts diet on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Comprehensive systems of biochemical markers and genomic screening were used to achieve this task. Experimental animals were divided into four groups (negative and positive control, diabetic group and diabetic group fed on walnuts diet). Diabetes was induced by i.p. injection of streptozotocin (STZ) for 3 successive days. Biomarkers assay, gene expression analysis, comet assay, quantitation of DNA fragmentation and micronucleus assay were investigated. The results suggested that walnuts could act as diabetic therapy without adverse effects at metabolic activity and molecular levels in diabetic mice.

Keywords: :

Biomarker, gene expression, DNA damage, DNA fragmentation, comet assay, micronucleus, walnuts.