Dietary fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum ) seeds and garlic ( Allium sativum ) alleviates oxidative stress in experimental myocardial infarction

Quantitative Determination of Steroidal Saponins of Semen Allii Fistulosi Using HPLC-ELSD and HPLC-MS

In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD) and HPLC-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) were employed for the quantitative analysis of steroidal saponins of Semen Allii Fistulosi. The HPLC-ELSD method was simple, accurate, and repeatable, and the recoveries were 97.91%∼99.77%. Similarly, the HPLC-MS method was rapid, sensitive, accurate, and reproducible, and the recoveries ranging from 95.61% to 99.70% in the control samples. The sensitivity of the HPLC-MS method was several times higher than that of the HPLC-ELSD method. These results collectively demonstrated that these methods are suitable for the content determination of steroidal saponins of Semen Allii Fistulosi and the identification of its plant source.

Beneficial Effects of a Novel Fenugreek Seed Extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Furocyst®) in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Follow-up Compliance Clinical Investigation

INTRODUCTION

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder which accounts for infertility around the world. The disease is characterized by elevated secretion of androgens in the women which results in enlargement of ovaries with accumulation of fluid filled cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, and hirsutism. This study reports the efficacy of a patented, standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum extract (Furocyst®) as an effective phytotherapeutic for effective management of PCOS.

OBJECTIVE

This randomized one-arm study assessed the efficacy of Furocyst® in 107 female volunteers over a period of 12 consecutive weeks.

METHOD

Following approvals of the Institutional Ethical Committee and clinicaltrials.gov, 107 female volunteers (age: 18-45 years) were recruited. Subjects consumed Furocyst® capsules (1,000 mg/day p.o.) over a period of 12 consecutive weeks. Physical (Sonographic scan, Hirsutism Score, Menstrual cycle, Body Weight, BMI, Height, Waist Circumference and Blood Pressure) and biochemical parameters (LH/FSH ratio, TSH, Prolactin, Fasting insulin, Fasting Glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, HOMA Index, free and total testosterone, 2-hour GTT, DHEAS) were assessed at the beginning of the study as well as at intervals of 4 weeks till 12 weeks to determine the efficacy of Furocyst® on PCOS induced damage on reproductive and endocrine system.

RESULTS

Furocyst® treatment induced >40% reduction of mean cyst sizes in both ovaries with corresponding reduction of in ovarian volumes. LH:FSH ratio was also significantly improved with corresponding reduction in total testosterone and prolactin levels. As a result of improvement in endocrine function, menstrual cycle became regular in the subjects. Furocyst® also reduced the severity of other associated ailments such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and improved liver function significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reinstated the efficacy of Furocyst® as a safe phytotherapeutic to reverse the effects of PCOS inflicted damage on the female reproductive system without any adverse events.

Phytochemical Properties and In Vitro Biological Activities of Phenolic Compounds from Flower of Clitoria ternatea L

Phenolic compounds from the flower of Clitoria ternatea L. (PCFCTL) were extracted using a high-speed shearing extraction technique and purified by AB-8 macroporous resins, and the phytochemical composition of the purified phenolic compounds from the flower of Clitoria ternatea L. (PPCFCTL) was then analyzed. Subsequently, its bioactivities including antioxidant properties, enzyme inhibitory activities, and antiproliferative activities against several tumor cell lines were evaluated. Results indicated that the contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, flavanols, and phenolic acids in PPCFCTL were increased by 3.29, 4.11, 2.74, 2.43, and 2.96-fold, respectively, compared with those before being purified by AB-8 macroporous resins. The results showed PPCFCTL have significant antioxidant ability (measured by reducing power, RP, and ferric reducing antioxidant power method, FRAP) and good DPPH, ABTS+, and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities. They can also significantly inhibit lipase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. In addition, morphological changes of HeLa, HepG2, and NCI-H460 tumor cells demonstrated the superior antitumor performance of PPCFCTL. However, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was relatively weak. These findings suggest that PPCFCTL have important potential as natural antioxidant, antilipidemic, anti-glycemic and antineoplastic agents in health-promoting foods.

Effects of dietary fenugreek seed extracts on growth performance, plasma biochemical parameters, lipid metabolism, Nrf2 antioxidant capacity and immune response of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Dietary administration of some plant-derived substances have been proved of great economic value in aquaculture. In order to investigate the effects of dietary fenugreek seed extracts (FSE) on juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), a feeding trial was conducted for 8 weeks. The results showed that final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were not significantly affected by dietary FSE levels. The whole body lipid contents of fish fed with 0.04%, 0.08% and 0.16% FSE diets were significantly lowered compared to the control group. Dietary FSE diets significantly affected plasma complement component 3 (C3), immunoglobulin M (IgM), albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP). The relative expressions of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) mRNA in the liver of fish decreased significantly with increasing dietary FSE levels from 0% up to 0.04%. FSE supplementation diets lowered the liver pro-inflammatory genes expressions by regulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) mRNA levels and increased anti-inflammatory genes expression by regulating transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and interleukin 10 (IL-10). FSE diets increased growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and target of rapamycin (TOR) mRNA levels from 0% up to 0.04%, 0.04% FSE diets significantly increased growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA levels and S6 kinase-polypeptide 1 (S6K1) mRNA levels compared to the control group. 0.04% FSE diets significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and 0.08% FSE diets significantly increased catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, 0.16% FSE diets significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities compared to the control group. Additionally, compared to the control group, 0.04% dietary FSE significantly up-regulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA levels and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) mRNA levels, at the same time, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.08%, 0.16% FSE diets significantly down-regulated kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) mRNA levels. However, no significant effects were observed on copper zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD). Our study indicated that dietary FSE could improve plasma biochemical parameters, regulate lipid metabolism related genes, promote Nrf2 antioxidant capacity and enhance immune response of juvenile blunt snout bream.