Hypolipidemic, hepato-protective and renal damage recovering effects of catechin isolated from the methanolic extract of Cassia fistula stem bark on Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats: a biochemical and morphological analysis

Novel Triterpenoids from Cassia fistula Stem Bark Depreciates STZ-Induced Detrimental Changes in IRS-1/Akt-Mediated Insulin Signaling Mechanisms in Type-1 Diabetic Rats

Here, we identified the mechanisms of action of antidiabetic activity of novel compounds isolated from Cassia fistula stem bark in STZ-diabetic animals. Novel triterpenoid compounds (C1, C2 and C3) were treated to STZ-administered diabetic animals at a concentration of 20mg/kg body weight orally for 60 days to assess their effects on plasma glucose, plasma insulin/C-peptide, serum lipid markers and the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, glucose oxidation and insulin signaling molecules. Oral administration of novel triterpenoid compounds to STZ-diabetic animals significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the plasma glucose concentration on the 7th, 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th daysin a duration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Plasma insulin (p < 0.0001)/C-peptide (p < 0.0006), tissue glycogen (p < 0.0034), glycogen phosphorylase (p < 0.005), glucose 6-phosphatase (p < 0.0001) and lipid markers were significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in diabetic rats, whereas glucokinase (p < 0.0047), glycogen synthase (p < 0.003), glucose oxidation (p < 0.001), GLUT4 mRNA (p < 0.0463), GLUT4 protein (p < 0.0475) and the insulin-signaling molecules IR mRNA (p < 0.0195), IR protein (p < 0.0001), IRS-1 mRNA (p < 0.0478), p-IRS-1Tyr612 (p < 0.0185), Akt mRNA (p < 0.0394), p-AktSer473 (p < 0.0162), GLUT4 mRNA (p < 0.0463) and GLUT4 (p < 0.0475) were decreased in the gastrocnemius muscle. In silico analysis of C1-C3 with IRK and PPAR-γ protein coincided with in vivo findings. C1-C3 possessed promising antidiabetic activity by regulating insulin signaling mechanisms and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes.

Hepatoprotective Plants from Bangladesh: A Biophytochemical Review and Future Prospect

Liver diseases are quite prevalant in many densely populated countries, including Bangladesh. The liver and its hepatocytes are targeted by virus and microbes, as well as by chemical environmental toxicants, causing wide-spread disruption of metabolic fuctions of the human body, leading to death from end-stage liver diseases. The aim of this review is to systematically explore and record the potential of Bangladeshi ethnopharmacological plants to treat liver diseases with focus on their sources, constituents, and therapeutic uses, including mechanisms of actions (MoA). A literature survey was carried out using Pubmed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases with articles reported until July, 2020. A total of 88 Bangladeshi hepatoprotective plants (BHPs) belonging to 47 families were listed in this review, including Euphorbiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Compositae families contained 20% of plants, while herbs were the most cited (51%) and leaves were the most consumed parts (23%) as surveyed. The effect of BHPs against different hepatotoxins was observed via upregulation of antioxidant systems and inhibition of lipid peroxidation which subsequently reduced the elevated liver biomarkers. Different active constituents, including phenolics, curcuminoids, cucurbitanes, terpenoids, fatty acids, carotenoids, and polysaccharides, have been reported from these plants. The hepatoameliorative effect of these constituents was mainly involved in the reduction of hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathways. In summary, BHPs represent a valuable resource for hepatoprotective lead therapeutics which may offer new alternatives to treat liver diseases.

The investigation of the efficacy ratio of cress seeds supplementation to moderate hyperglycemia and hepatotoxicity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE

Oxidative stress resulting from chronic hyperglycemia induced many complications in diabetes and led to disorders and dysfunctions in different organs. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective rate of cress seeds (CS) or Lepidium sativum seeds in the diet on lowering hyperglycemia and oxidative stress damaging.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Forty-eight male rats were randomly divided into six groups : (D-0) and (ND-0) diabetic, and non-diabetic groups were fed with a normal diet, (ND-CS2) and (ND-CS5) non-diabetic groups were fed with diet containing 2 % and 5 % of cress seeds respectively, (D-CS2) and (D-CS5) diabetic groups were fed with diet containing 2 % and 5 % of cress seeds respectively. After 28 days of treatment, biochemical, histological, and oxidative parameters were determined. Hepatic and pancreatic histological sections were developed.

RESULTS

STZ-injection caused hyperglycemia accompanied by a disturbance in biochemical parameters and intensified oxidative stress status compared to the (ND-0) group. Hepatic and pancreatic histological sections of diabetic rats showed a disrupted architecture. However, the cress seeds-diet revealed a significant decrease of hyperglycemia and a reduction of the intensity of oxidative stress induced by diabetes compared to the (D-0) group, remarked by a decreased level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and high levels of glutathione (GSH) and the antioxidant enzymes, led to the decrease of the majority of parameters principally hepatic and lipid profile with histological regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

Cress seeds supplementation confirmed their potential anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities with higher efficacy of 5 % dose than the lower dose of 2 %. Therefore, 5 % of cress seeds administration seems to be the excellent rate recommended in controlling diabetes and its complications.

Highland Barley Whole Grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) Ameliorates Hyperlipidemia by Modulating Cecal Microbiota, miRNAs, and AMPK Pathways in Leptin Receptor-Deficient db/db Mice

The mechanisms of highland barley whole grain (BWG) with rich phenolics on obese db/db mice were investigated in this study. Oral consumption of BWG reduced food intake, body weight, organ/body weight indexes of liver and fat, levels of serum and hepatic lipids, liver injury, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, BWG recovered the disorder of cecal microbiota by augmenting the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and Alistipes abundance and decreasing the abundances of Bacteroides and Desulfovibrionaceae to modulate lipid metabolism-related genes. BWG inhibited fatty acid biosynthesis via upregulating the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α, while downregulating sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 levels. BWG also significantly downregulated miRNA-122, miRNA-33, miRNA-34a, and miRNA-206 levels. Accordingly, BWG exhibited hypolipidemic potential through modulating cecal microbiota, AMPK/SREBP-1c/FAS pathway, and related miRNAs, triggering the alleviation of dyslipidemia. These findings suggested BWG as an effective candidate to ameliorate the symptoms of hyperlipidemia.

Oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity associated with deltamethrin in rats: The protective effects of Amaranthus spinosus seed extract

OBJECTIVE

The liver plays a major role in detoxification and metabolism of toxic compound and xenobiotics like pesticides. Thereby, any type of modification in its function causes hepatotoxicity. So, the aim of this study was designed to assess the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of methanol extract Amaranthus spinosus seed (ASS) on liver injury induced by deltamethrin (DLM), a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ASS was subjected to different phytochemical analyses including total phenolic and flavonoid content. In vitro, antioxidant activities was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. In vivo hepatoprotective effect of A. spinosus seeds against DLM induced liver injury in rats was tested in plasma and liver tissue.

RESULTS

ASS reverses hepatotoxicity in DLM-intoxicated rats: serum liver biomarkers (alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and aminotransferases), hepatic levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were restored to normal levels. The protective effects of ASS was confirmed by histological studies.

CONCLUSION

The hepatoprotective potential of ASS could be explained by its high phenolic content, antioxidant properties and phytochemical contents.