Salacia oblonga ameliorates hypertriglyceridemia and excessive ectopic fat accumulation in laying hens

Antimalarial compounds from the climbing stems of salacia debilis

Salacia debilis Walp., (Celastraceae) is used traditionally in West Africa for the treatment of malaria. However, no scientific reports validating these effects and its active constituents are on record. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating the antimalarial effects, of its ethanolic extract and isolated compounds against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 and P. berghei ANKA strains. Using chromatographic, spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques three compounds were isolated and characterised. The extract of S. debilis was active against P. falciparum 3D7, in an in vitro assay with IC50 of 12.0 ± 0.32 µg/ml. The three isolated compounds, namely 1,10-dihydroxy-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one (1), 8- hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxydibenzo[b,d]furan-1-carboxylic acid (2) and benzyl-2-methoxybenzoate (3), also showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain in curative and suppressive in vivo assays. The ethanolic extract and isolated compounds of S. debilis possess antimalarial effects. The isolated compounds may be responsible, at least in part, for the observed activities of the extract.

Jose, K. Subin, T.V. Sarath. Reproductive biology of two threatened and highly traded medicinal plants, Salacia gambleana and Salacia oblonga, from the Western Ghats of India

Salacia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae, consisting of woody climbers distributed in tropical America, Africa, and Asia. In India it is represented by 21 species, of which 15 occur in peninsular India. Most species of the genus have been used in traditional medicine, mainly the Ayurvedic system. Apart from overexploitation for medicinal purposes, the low fruit set and infestation of seeds have affected natural regeneration, and led to the rarity of Salacia species in their natural habitats. The reproductive biology of Salacia oblonga and S. gambleana was studied for the first time to understand the reproductive constraints of these threatened and medicinally important species. The flowering phenology, pollen viability, germination, stigma receptivity, and insect-pest interaction were analyzed. The obligatory entomophily coupled with insufficient pollinators and seed pest infestation were found to be the main reproductive constraints responsible for the low fruit set and poor natural regeneration of these species.

An Updated Review on the Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Trials of Salacia oblonga

Salacia oblonga (S. oblonga), a perennial herb, has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine and is closely associated with prevention, treatment, and cure of various human ailments such as obesity and diabetes. A vast and wide range of chemical compounds such as polyphenols, friedelane-type triterpenes, norfriedelane-type triterpenes, eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes including various glycosides had been isolated from this plant. This review is aimed to survey the literature covering the phytochemistry and pharmacology of S. oblonga and to review the scientific data including active components and their multi-targeted mechanisms of action against various metabolic syndromes. We also included clinical trials related to this plant in this review. The overview would assist researchers to gather scientific information related to S. oblonga in future.

Modulation of hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c-mediated gene expression contributes to Salacia oblonga root-elicited improvement of fructose-induced fatty liver in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salacia oblonga root (SOR) is a traditionally herbal medicine for obesity and diabetes, which are closely associated with fatty liver. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of SOR in the treatment of dietary-induced fatty liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male rats were co-administered with fructose in drinking water and vehicle or the aqueous-ethanolic extract of SOR (by gavage, once daily) for 10 weeks. Biochemical variables were determined enzymatically or by ELISA. Gene expression was analyzed by Real-Time PCR and/or Western blot.

RESULTS

SOR treatment (20mg/kg) diminished fructose-induced fatty liver indicated by decreases in excess triglyceride accumulation and the increased vacuolization and Oil Red O staining area in the livers of rats. Importantly, Hepatic gene expression profile revealed that SOR suppressed fructose-stimulated overexpression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1/1c mRNA and nuclear protein. In accord, overexpression of SREBP-1c-responsive genes, such as fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, was also downregulated. In contrast, overexpressed nuclear protein of carbohydrate response element binding protein and mRNA of its target gene liver pyruvate kinase were not altered. Additionally, SOR also did not affect expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma- and -alpha, as well as their target genes, such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a, acyl-CoA oxidase and CD36.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that modulation of hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c-mediated gene expression contributes to SOR-elicited improvement of fructose-induced fatty liver in rats. Our findings provide a better understanding of SOR in the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

Ovarian morphology and internal vis-à-vis non internal laying in relation to triacylglycerol, hormones and their receptors concentration around the age of sexual maturity in broiler breeder hens

1. Ovarian morphology, serum hormone concentrations of 17-β-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and triacylglycerol (TAG) were investigated at 23 and 26 weeks of age in broiler breeder hens provided with ad libitum access to feed. Progesterone, oestrogen-β, thyroid-α and -β receptor mRNAs were also quantified in the infundibulum at the same ages. 2. A large variation in the ovarian morphology was observed at 23 weeks of age including hens with undeveloped ovaries, non-laying hens with post ovulatory follicles (POF) and a predominance of non-laying hens without a POF. 3. Serum concentrations of triglyceride, 17-β-estradiol and progesterone at 23 weeks of age were lower in hens with an undeveloped ovary compared with other groups of hens, whereas testosterone, triiodothyronine and thyroxin were higher. 4. At 26 weeks of age, the average number of hierarchical yellow follicles in normal layers was 7.64 ± 0·41 whereas in internal layers, the follicular numbers were significantly greater at 8.66 ± 0·53. The higher follicular numbers in internal layers were associated with higher serum triglyceride and progesterone concentrations. 5. Oestrogen receptor-β and thyroid receptor-β mRNA was up regulated in the infundibulum of internal layers compared with normal laying hens at 26 weeks of age.