The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic effect, lipid profile and the activity of certain hepatic enzymes of the ethanolic extract of the plant Arbutus andrachne on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. About 30 Wistar albino rats weighing between 180-200 g were randomly classified into four categories of six albino rats. The normal control group (group A) was treated orally with distilled water. The diabetic control group (group B) was induced by streptozotocin. So, this group is considered as a negative control. The non diabetic rats (group C) which was treated with the ethanolic extract of the plant A. andrachne that collected from Jerash/Jordan of a dose 200 mg kg–1. The last group (Group D) which included the diabetic rats that treated with 200 mg kg–1 of the ethanoilc extract of the plant A. andrachne. The treatment was carried out daily for 14 days. The glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and hepatic enzymes levels were quantified in serum of experimental rats. Faculty of Pharmacy/Applied Science University (December, 2018) and Botany Lab, Department of Biological sciences/University of Jordan. The results unambiguously showed that there was significant declines (p<0.05) in triglycerides and glucose levels in albino rats that treated with A. andrachne ethanolic extract compared with group B, the control group of diabetic rats. Significant reduction (p<0.05) in hepatic enzymes -AST and ALT-levels were also observed in rats treated with the plant ethanoilc extract compared with group B experimental rats. However, no significant changes in the cholesterol level were observed in the treated rats compared with the control group. Data in this piece of research revealed that the plant A. andrachne ethanolic extract has both hypoglycemic and hypolipidimic effect. This extract is suggested to reduce the liver damage induced by streptozotocin through maintaining the activity of hepatic enzymes.

Follicular and luteal phases of estrus cycle of Tapri and mixed goats under semi intensive management system. In order to get insight to understand the mechanism of steroidogenesis and study of various phases of estrus cycle in highly prolific Tapri goats of Sindh, in first phase an attempt was made to determine the length of various phases of estrus cycle of Tapri breed and its comparison with cross breed goats during three estrus cycles. Total ten healthy adult cycling goats (five from each breed) were maintained at the departments of animal reproduction and livestock management, FAHVS, SAU, Tandojam. Vaginal cytology method was used as marker to determine the status of estrus cycle. It was found that mean length of estrus cycle in tapri and cross breed goats were 21.32±0.26 and 21.2±0.56 days, respectively, both the longest (22.2±0.67 days) and shortest (20.4±0.66 days) duration of estrus cycles length were found in cross breed. The length of follicular phase including the estrus was 1.48±0.07, 1.34±0.01 days and during proestrus period it was 2.98±0.01 and 3.20±0.1 days in tapri breed and cross breed respectively, similarly, during luteal phase the length of metestrus and diestrus were in tapri versus cross breed goats were 3.25±0.14 vs 3.28±0.6 and 13.59±0.10 vs 13.28±0.4 days, respectively.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health concern all over the world. The number of affected people is increasing every year. Many factors contribute to the disease including diet, genetics, lifestyle and so forth. The disease is characterized by hyperglycemia because of insuffiency of the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. There is need for alternatives to the conventional antidiabetic drugs to overcome their shortages vitamin D and calcium intake are thought to protect against DM our research aims to evaluate the effect of administration vitamin D, calcium and combination of both on glucose and insulin levels in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced intraperitoneally in male Wister albino rats by injection of alloxan (150 mgkg–1 bw). Animals were divided into seven groups of eight rats each: group I served as normal control, group II act as diabetic control. The diabetic rats treated groups (III, IV, V, VI and VII) were treated, respectively with metformin at dose of 100 mgkg–1, vitamin D3 at dose of 12.5 µgkg–1, calcium gluconate at dose of 100 mgkg–1 both vitamin D3 and calcium gluconate and olive oil at dose of 0.3 mLkg–1 (serve as vehicle group). The treatments were performed by oral administration once a day for 28 consecutive days. The results showed that vitamin D3 and vitamin D3-calcium combination lowers blood glucose level and calcium alone was not statistically significant decreased glucose level. Supplementation with vitamin D3 with or without calcium increases insulin slightly when compared with normal control.