Development of detox formulations using bentonite and herbal raw materials

Detoxification enzymes involved in human metabolism works to minimize the potential for xenobiotic-induced damage that is constantly exposed in daily life. Inadequacies that may occur in detoxification processes in metabolism may be associated with many diseases, and toxin accumulation is dangerous not only for individuals but also for future generations due to the intergenerational inheritance of epigenetic changes. Within the subject of this thesis, the effect of the intervention on cholesterol levels was also examined, instead of considering the detoxification evaluation as one-dimensional. Be-fore the in vivo study, Swiss albino mice were made hypercholesterolemic to create a working model in which both indirectly impaired detoxification response and directly impaired cholesterol values. Regardless of the source of bioactive natural products, they can always be used as new therapeutic agents if the effective dose and correct usage areas are determined. In parti-cular, many plants and/or their components have properties that are desired to be utili-zed within the subject of this study, such as antioxidant properties and hypercholeste-rolemic effects. Food grade bentonite clay, turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) extract, grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed extract, ground flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seed, and ground Plantago ovata L. seed were selected for use in this research. An extensive literature review was conducted within the scope of potential effects. The main objective of this thesis was to pioneer the formulation or development of nutraceuticals based on the simultaneous effect of herbal raw materials and bentonite (especially in combination) on cholesterol levels and detoxification parameters as a result of this in-vivo research. Swelling index determination and fixed oil analysis in flaxseed and Plantago ovata se-eds, the amount of fixed oil analysis in grape seed, and the amount of curcumin cons-tent analysis in turmeric extract was analyzed. In addition, an extract was obtained from grape seed and total phenolic and flavonoid content analysis was performed in the ob-tained extract. The doses of the raw materials to be used were determined based on previous research and reports. Nine study groups were formed for in vivo research: Control group, hypercholesterolemic group, reference substance group (10 mg/kg Atorvastatin), Group 1 (60 mg/day bentonite), Group 2 (60 mg/day bentonite + 7 mg/day ground flaxseed + 2.5 mg/day grape seed extract + 2 mg/day turmeric extract), Group 3 (60 mg/day food bentonite + 7 mg/day ground black cumin seed + 2, 5 mg/day grape seed extract + 2 mg/day turmeric extract), Group 4 (60 mg/day food ben-tonite + 2.5 mg/day grape seed extract + 2 mg/day turmeric extract), Group 5 (7 mg/day ground flaxseed), Group 6 (7 mg/day ground flaxseed). Hypercholesterolemia was induced in experimental animals by application of pellet feed containing 1% cho-lesterol for 30 days. The test materials were administered to the mice in the test group (except the control group) simultaneously. At the end of the 30-day experiment period, blood samples and liver tissue were taken from mice in all groups. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotrans-ferase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma total antioxidant activity (TAA) ), nitric acid, leptin levels and glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) values were measured. As a result, Group 2 (which is containing bentonite, grape seed extract, turmeric extract, and ground flaxseed) and Group 3 (which is containing bentonite, grape seed extract, turmeric extract, and ground Plantago ovata seed) has been shown that to sig-nificant effects both on some detoxification parameters and serum cholesterol values when compared with the hypercholesterolemic group. These combinations have a posi-tive effect on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and formulations suitable for human nutrition can be developed using these combinations.