OBJECTIVE Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Although conventional antidiabetic agents are known to ameliorate the symptoms of diabetes, they also may cause adverse effects. The purpose of this review was to organize and discuss various studies that have been previously conducted indicating the efficacy of Al...

The antisickling effects of the extracts of three vegetables highly consumed in Nigeria were investigated which included: Allium cepa (Onion), Allium sativum (Garlic) and Telferia occidentalis (Ugu). The extracts were partitioned into, the fat-soluble (FAS), the water-soluble (WAS), the butanol-soluble (BUS) and the crude aqueous extracts (CAEs) respectively. Free amino acid concentrations of t...

The genotoxic potential of blitox (fungicide) was investigated by using chromosome aberration in Allium cepa root tip cells. Allium cepa roots were treated with 2g/lt., 3g/lt. and 4g/lt. concentrations of blitox and distilled water as control at 4 hours, 8 hours and 12 hours duration. The results indicated that blitox significantly increased the genetical abnormalities at all concentrations and...

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormalities of carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease caused by destruction of pancreatic beta cells and characterized by defect in insulin secretion while type 2 diabetes mellitus results from abnormalities in insulin secretion and/or insulin action or bo...

Introduction: This study investigated the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) (50 Hz, 3 mT) on biochemical parameters of rats’ ovarian tissues and the impact of Allium cepa on the reduction of potential adverse influences of electromagnetic exposure. Material and Methods: In this study 40 female Wistar rats were divided into four groups, including (1) control gr...

oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (ldl) has been strongly suggested as a key factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. thus, the inclusion of some anti-oxidant compounds in daily dietary food stuff may inhibit the production of oxidized ldl and may decrease both the development and the progression of atherosclerosis. the present work investigated the inhibitory effects of extract of all...

We have purified a novel alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) from roots of onion (Allium cepa L.). Two isoforms with alliinase activity (I and II) were separated by concanavalin A-Sepharose and had molecular masses of 52.7 (I) and 50.5 (II) kD on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 51 (I) and 57.5 (II) kD by gel filtration fast-protein liquid chromatography. Isoform I had an isoel...

Plants of the Allium genus produce sulphur compounds that give them a characteristic (alliaceous) flavour and mediate for their medicinal use. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Allium cepa red cv. and A. sativum in the context of three different drying processes were assessed using metabolomics. Bulbs were dried using either microwave, air drying, or freeze...

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been strongly suggested as a key factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, the inclusion of some anti-oxidant compounds in daily dietary food stuff may inhibit the production of oxidized LDL and may decrease both the development and the progression of atherosclerosis. The present work investigated the inhibitory effects of extract of Al...