Tinospora cordifolia preserves pancreatic beta cells and enhances glucose uptake in adipocytes to regulate glucose metabolism in diabetic rats

Pathophysiology of diabetic hepatopathy and molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective effects of phytochemicals

Patients with diabetes are at risk for liver disorders including glycogen hepatopathy, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatic fibrosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms behind diabetic hepatopathy are complex, some of them include fatty acid accumulation, increased reactive oxygen species, increased advanced glycation end-products, hyperactivity of polyol pathways, increased apoptosis and necrosis, and promotion of fibrosis. A growing number of studies have shown that herbal extracts and their active phytochemicals have antihyperglycemic properties and beneficial effects on diabetic complications. The current review, for the first time, focused on herbal agents that showed beneficial effects on diabetic hepatopathy. For example, animal studies have shown that Moringa oleifera and Morus alba improve liver function in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Also, evidence from clinical trials suggests that Boswellia serrata, Juglans regia, Melissa officinalis, Portulaca oleracea, Silybum marianum, Talapotaka Churna, and Urtica dioica reduce serum liver enzymes in diabetic patients. The main active ingredient of these plants to protect the liver seems to be phenolic compounds such as niazirin, chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, etc. Mechanisms responsible for the hepatoprotective activity of herbal agents include improving glucose metabolism, restoring adipokines levels, antioxidant defense, and anti-inflammatory activity. Several signaling pathways are involved in hepatoprotective effects of herbal agents in diabetes, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.

Effects of saponins isolated from Polygonatum sibiricum on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in RIN-m5F cells and its protective effect on pancreas

The damage of islet cells caused by oxidative stress is closely related to diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of saponins isolated from polygonatum sibiricum (PSS) on pancreas injury by using in vitro and in vivo models. The oxidative stress model of RIN-m5F cells induced by H₂O₂ was established. We found that PSS could decrease the apoptosis of RIN-m5F cells under oxidative stress. After PSS treatment, ROS and MDA levels in cells significantly decreased. Moreover, the levels of SOD and GSH were significantly increased. PSS could increase the insulin secretion level of cells under oxidative stress. The expression level of intracellular Bcl-2 increased, and the expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 decreased significantly. In addition, the type 2 diabetes mouse model was established. The results showed that PSS had a protective effect on the injury of the pancreas in T2DM mice. PSS can relieve oxidative stress and high glucose-mediated pancreas cytotoxicity. PSS may be a promising candidate for diabetes intervention and functional foods.

Xanthones from the latex and twig extracts of Garcinia nigrolineata Planch. ex T. Anderson (Clusiaceae) and their antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities

A new geranylated xanthone, nigrolineaxanthone AA (1) together with 18 known compounds (2-19) were isolated from latex and twig extracts of Garcinia nigrolineata Planch. ex T. Anderson. Some of the isolated compounds were assessed for their antidiabetic activities and cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines. Of these, compounds 12 (IC₅₀ value of 25.8 ± 0.2 µM), 16 (IC₅₀ value of 124.8 ± 0.7 µM), and 17 (IC₅₀ value of 44.4 ± 1.1 µM) exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory, α-amylase inhibitory, and glycation inhibition activities, respectively. Compound 11 showed glucose consumption and glucose uptake with IC₅₀ values of 14.2 ± 0.8 µM and 3.1-fold. Compound 10 displayed cytotoxic activity against colon cancer (SW480) with an IC₅₀ value of 4.3 ± 0.1 µM), while compound 2 showed cytotoxicity against leukemic cancer (K562) with IC₅₀ value of 4.4 ± 0.3 µM.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers: Protection mechanisms and strategies against oxidative stress-related diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers (Menispermaceae) is a Mediterranean herb, used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and folk medicines. The herb is also used in conventional medicine to treat oxidative stress-related diseases and conditions, including inflammation, pain, diarrhea, asthma, respiratory infections, cancer, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The taxonomy, botanical classification, geographical distribution, and ethnobotanical uses of T. cordifolia, as well as the phytochemical compounds found in the herb, the toxicology of and pharmacological and clinical studies on the effects of T. cordifolia are all covered in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To gather information on T. cordifolia, we used a variety of scientific databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. The information discussed focuses on biologically active compounds found in T. cordifolia, and common applications and pharmacological activity of the herb, as well as toxicological and clinical studies on its properties.

RESULTS

The findings of this study reveal a connection between the use of T. cordifolia in conventional medicine and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and other biological effects. The entire plant, stem, leaves, root, and extracts of T. cordifolia have been shown to have a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impact. Toxicological testing demonstrated that this plant may have medicinal applications. T. cordifolia contains a variety of biologically active compounds from various chemical classes, including alkaloids, terpenoids, sitosterols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Based on the reports researched for this review, we believe that chemicals in T. cordifolia may activate Nrf2, which leads to the overexpression of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, GPx, GST, and GR, and thereby induces the adaptive response to oxidative stress. T. cordifolia is also able to reduce NF-κB signalling by inhibiting PI3K/Akt, activating AMPK and sirtuins, and downregulating PI3K/Akt.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that the pharmacological properties displayed by T. cordifolia back up its conventional uses. Antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective activities were all demonstrated in T. cordifolia stem extracts. To validate pharmacodynamic targets, further research is needed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of the known compounds against gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory processes, and microbial infections, as immunostimulants, and in chemotherapy. The T. cordifolia safety profile was confirmed in a toxicological analysis, which prompted pharmacokinetic assessment testing to confirm its bioavailability.

Nutraceuticals and Herbs in Reducing the Risk and Improving the Treatment of COVID-19 by Targeting SARS-CoV-2

The worldwide transmission of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a deadly or devastating disease is known to affect thousands of people every day, many of them dying all over the planet. The main reason for the massive effect of COVID-19 on society is its unpredictable spread, which does not allow for proper planning or management of this disease. Antibiotics, antivirals, and other prescription drugs, necessary and used in therapy, obviously have side effects (minor or significant) on the affected person, there are still not clear enough studies to elucidate their combined effect in this specific treatment, and existing protocols are sometimes unclear and uncertain. In contrast, it has been found that nutraceuticals, supplements, and various herbs can be effective in reducing the chances of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also in alleviating COVID-19 symptoms. However, not enough specific details are yet available, and precise scientific studies to validate the approved benefits of natural food additives, probiotics, herbs, and nutraceuticals will need to be standardized according to current regulations. These alternative treatments may not have a direct effect on the virus or reduce the risk of infection with it, but these products certainly stimulate the human immune system so that the body is better prepared to fight the disease. This paper aims at a specialized literary foray precisely in the field of these “cures” that can provide real revelations in the therapy of coronavirus infection

Antidiabetic and antimicrobial flavonoids from the twigs and roots of Erythrina subumbrans (Hassk.) Merr

The phytochemical investigation of the twig and root extracts of Erythrina subumbrans (Hassk.) Merr. (Fabaceae) resulted in the isolation and identification of a new pterocarpan, erythrinocarpan (1), along with 27 known compounds (2-28). All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Compounds 3, 8, 9, and 22 had α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 13.4 ± 0.05, 24.5 ± 0.13, 29.0 ± 0.05, and 12.8 ± 0.14 μM, respectively, while compound 2 inhibited α-amylase activity with an IC50 value of 67.6 ± 1.12 μM. Compounds 22 and 24 inhibited glycation activity with the IC50 values of 36.9 ± 0.62 and 40.5 ± 0.37 μM, respectively. From cell-based assays, compound 27 showed the highest ability to induce glucose consumption (IC50 29.1 ± 0.86 μM) and glucose uptake (2.8-fold), and to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production (IC50 52.5 ± 0.56 μM) without cell toxicity. Furthermore, compound 9 showed antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi with MIC values ranging from 2-4 μg/mL.

Nano-encapsulated Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) using poly (D, L-lactide) nanoparticles educe effective control in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats

The therapeutics for type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged in the current century towards nanomedicine incorporated with plant active compounds. In this study, Tinospora cordifolia loaded poly (D, L-lactide) (PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) were evaluated in vivo for their anti-hyperglycemic potency towards streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats. T. cordifolia loaded PLA NPs were synthesised by the double solvent evaporation method using PLA polymer. The NPs were then characterised and administrated orally for 28 successive days to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The PLA NPs had significant anti-diabetic effects which were equal to the existing anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide. The antidiabetic activity is due to the synergism of compounds present in stem extract of the plant which reduced the side effects and anti-diabetic.

Polyoxygenated seco-cyclohexenes derivatives from flower and leaf extracts of Desmos cochinchinensis and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

Phytochemical investigations from the flower and leaf extracts of D. cochinchinensis resulted in the isolation and structural elucidation of five new polyoxygenated seco-cyclohexene derivatives, desmoscochinchinenes A-E (1–5), together with 11 known compounds (6–16). The structures on the new compounds were elucidated from their spectroscopic data, including UV, IR, NMR, and HRESITOFMS. Some of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Chrysin (9), pinocembrin 7-O-benzoate (12), and (−)-(5R)-desmoscochinoxepinone B (16) inhibited α-glucosidase better than the standard control (acarbose, IC₅₀ = 83.5 μM) with IC₅₀ values of 5.7, 33.8, 53.3 μM, respectively.

Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of antidiabetic compounds from Garcinia cowa leaf extract

Garcinia cowa Roxb. ex Choisy (Clusiaceae) is a Thai local edible plant, which has been used for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study is to discover and identify bioactive compounds related to antidiabetic properties from the leaf extract of G. cowa. α-Glucosidase inhibitory bioassay-guided isolation of the ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of G.cowa resulted in the isolation and identification of 11 compounds. Of these, a decahydro-1H-xanthene derivative, garciniacowone K (1), was identified as a novel compound. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic data and by comparison of their NMR spectroscopic data with those previously reported. All compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory and glucose consumption activities. Compound 2 showed the highest efficacy in inhibiting α-glucosidase enzyme and promoting glucose consumption activity by 3T3-L1 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 0.5 μM and 13.1 μM, respectively, without causing toxicity to cells.