Renoprotective effect of fucoidan from Acaudina molpadioides in streptozotocin/high fat diet-induced type 2 diabetic mice

A comprehensive review of sulfated fucan from sea cucumber: Antecedent and prospect

Sulfated fucan from sea cucumber is mainly consists of L-fucose and sulfate groups. Recent studies have confirmed that the structure of sulfated fucan mainly consists of repeating units, typically tetrasaccharides. However, there is growing evidence indicating the presence of irregular domains with heterogeneous units that have not been extensively explored. Moreover, as a key contributor to the nutritional benefits of sea cucumbers, sulfated fucan demonstrates a range of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant, and anticoagulant properties. These biological activities are profoundly influenced by the structural features of sulfated fucan including molecular weight and distribution patterns of sulfate groups. The latest research indicates that sulfated fucan is dispersed in the extracellular matrix of the body wall of sea cucumbers. This article aimed to review the research progress on the in-situ distribution, structures, structural elucidation strategies, functions, and structure-activity relationships of sulfated fucan, especially in the last decade. It also provided insights into the major challenges and potential solutions in the research and development of sulfated fucan. Moreover, the fucanase and carbohydrate binding modules are anticipated to play pivotal roles in advancing this field.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Compounds from Echinoderms

Chronic inflammation can extensively burden a healthcare system. Several synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs are currently available in clinical practice, but each has its own side effect profile. The planet is gifted with vast and diverse oceans, which provide a treasure of bioactive compounds, the chemical structures of which may provide valuable pharmaceutical agents. Marine organisms contain a variety of bioactive compounds, some of which have anti-inflammatory activity and have received considerable attention from the scientific community for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs. This review describes such bioactive compounds, as well as crude extracts (published during 2010-2022) from echinoderms: namely, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and starfish. Moreover, we also include their chemical structures, evaluation models, and anti-inflammatory activities, including the molecular mechanism(s) of these compounds. This paper also highlights the potential applications of those marine-derived compounds in the pharmaceutical industry to develop leads for the clinical pipeline. In conclusion, this review can serve as a well-documented reference for the research progress on the development of potential anti-inflammatory drugs from echinoderms against various chronic inflammatory conditions.

Fucoidans from Cucumaria frondosa ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway

The effects of Cucumaria frondosa polysaccharides (CFPs) on renal interstitial fibrosis by regulating the phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxykinase/protein kinase-B/nuclear factor-κB (PI3K/AKT/NF-κB) signaling pathway were investigated in vivo and in vitro in this research. The common unilateral urethral obstruction (UUO) model was used to examine the renoprotective effect and its mechanism in vivo. Compared to the UUO group, CFP administration could ameliorate renal function, inhibit inflammation and fibrosis, and reduce the deposition of the extracellular matrix and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mechanistic results indicated that CFPs could inhibit the expression of the total protein of PI3K and the conversion of the AKT and NF-κB p65 phosphorylated proteins, thereby inhibiting the transduction of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. In addition, CFP treatment could improve inflammation and fibrosis in HK-2 cells induced by TGF-β1, and its in vitro mechanism was also verified to inhibit the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, these results showed that CFP could alleviate renal interstitial fibrosis related to the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Nephroprotective Effects of Alhagi camelorum against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Albino Wistar Rats

Alhagi camelorum (AC) is an old plant with a significant therapeutic value throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The overuse of cisplatin (Cis > 50 mg/m²) is associated with observed nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, gastrotoxicity, myelosuppression, and allergic reactions. Remedial measures are needed for the protection of nephrotoxicity against cisplatin. Thus, we investigated the nephroprotective effects of AC plant extract to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in albino Wistar rats. The presence of polyphenols, phenolic compounds, tannins, and saponins was revealed during phytochemical investigation, and a significantly intense antioxidant activity was recorded. There were no toxicological symptoms in the treated rats, and no anatomical, physiological, or histological abnormalities were found compared to the control rats. The results of correcting cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity revealed that the extract has a significant ability to treat kidney damage, with most parameters returning to normal after only three weeks of therapy. It is concluded that co-administration of cisplatin with AC extract showed exceptional nephroprotective effects at a dose of 600 mg/kg for Cis-induced nephrotoxicity.

Characteristic of Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Inflammation in A Rat Model of Diabetes-Associated Renal Injury

Background: Chemical agents such as streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotinamide (NAD) are used in animal models of diabetes mellitus and their related consequences in the kidneys. Several studies have been conducted to determine the modeling, however, the results are still unclear. Moreover, diabetic nephropathy is considered to begin with an inflammatory reaction in the kidneys.  Objectives: This study aims to investigate the metabolic profile STZ and NAD induce inflammation in the kidney.  Methods: The male Wistar rats used were divided into control and STZ-induced diabetes. Half of the diabetes group received a single dose of nicotinamide (230 mg/Kg) 15 minutes after STZ injection and all groups were monitored for 6 weeks. Furthermore, the profiles of creatinine, urea, and uric acid from serum and urine were observed and the kidney inflammation was tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with IL-6 and TNF-α parameters.  Results: The result shows that the administration of a single dose of 230 mg/kg NAD in diabetic rats induced with 50 mg/kg and 65 mg/kg STZ affects body weight and kidney organ index. For 6 weeks of testing, both doses of STZ were enhanced several parameters of kidney damage in diabetic rats in blood and urine chemical parameters. Furthermore, the use of NAD to promote inflammation in STZ-induced diabetic rats gave no significant difference. However, NAD can help mice live longer and avoid problems throughout the test.  Conclusions: The use of NAD leads to inflammation in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Therefore, the administration of Nicotinamide is recommended since it helps the rats live longer during the experiment. 

Acaudina molpadioides mediates lipid uptake by suppressing PCSK9 transcription and increasing LDL receptor in human liver cells

Acaudina molpadioides has been long used as traditional medicinal resources and reported to demonstrate various important bioactivities such as anticoagulation, antithrombosis, anti-hyperglycemia and anticancer. However, its lipid lowering activity is yet to be fully explored. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is an enzyme that enhances the lysosomal degradation of hepatic low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) resulting in excessive accumulation of the plasma levels of LDL-cholesterols (LDL-C) which subsequently accelerate atherosclerosis. In the present study, A. molpadioides fractions were subjected to promoter-reporter luciferase assay to determine its role as PCSK9 inhibitors. It was found both fractions (EFA and EFB) reduced the transcriptional activity of PCSK9 promoter. Among the seven 5′end deletion constructs of PCSK9 promoter, fragments D1 (−1,711/−94), D3 (−709/−94) and D4 (−440/−94), were suppressed in the presence of both fractions whereas D2 (−1,214/−94), and, D6 (−351/−94) as well as D7 (−335/−94) were inhibited only by EFA and EFB, respectively. Further transcription factor binding sites prediction using MatInspector software discovered various potential cis-regulatory elements namely, PPAR, KLFs, RBPJ-kappa and SREBP that may potentially be involved in ameliorating the transcriptional activity of PCSK9. Immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the effects of both fractions on LDL-C and LDLR. Results showed that levels of LDL-C uptake in EFA-treated cells were 69.1% followed by EFB at 32.6%, as compared to untreated control after 24 h treatment. The LDLR protein distribution was induced by 62.41% and 32.2%, which corresponded to an increase in LDL-C uptake in both EFA and EFB treatment, respectively. Hence, the inhibition of PCSK9 by bioactive compounds in EFA and EFB could be another promising therapeutic agent in reducing the cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis by targeting PCSK9.

The nephroprotective effects of Daucus carota and Eclipta prostrata against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The overuse of cisplatin (>50 mg/m2) is limited to nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, gastrotoxicity, myelosuppression, and allergic reactions. The objective of this study was to investigate the nephroprotective effects of Daucus carota and Eclipta prostrata extracts on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. The study involved male Wistar albino rats of 8 weeks weighing 220-270 g. A single injection of 5 mg/kg was injected into the rats for nephrotoxicity. Rats were divided into four groups based on dose conentrations. Blood and urine samples of rats were collected on the 0, 7th, 14th, and 21st days for nephrological analysis. The results showed that Cis + DC/Cis + EP (600 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001) increased the body weight and reduced the kidney weight of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats (p < 0.001) as compared to Cis group. The results showed that 600 mg/kg administration of Cis + DC/Cis +EP successfully (p < 0.005) improved the urine and plasmin creatinine, Na, and K level compared to the Cis group. Histopathological results confirmed that Cis + EP/Cis + DC effectively improved the renal abnormalities. It is concluded that the co-administration of Cis + EP extract showed exceptional nephroprotective effects at a dose rate of 600 mg/kg.

A low proportion n-6/n-3 PUFA diet supplemented with Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil protects against osteoarthritis by attenuating inflammation in ovariectomized mice

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is characterized by cartilage destruction, and its incidence is much higher in the osteoporotic population. There is increasing evidence that the occurrence and development of OA are modulated by the dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This study investigated the effects of dietary PUFA, including n-3/n-6 PUFA proportion and the molecular form of n-3 PUFA, on OA using osteoporotic osteoarthritis dual model mice, where phospholipid type n-3 PUFA were specifically examined. The results revealed that a low proportion of n-6/n-3 PUFA in diets from 1 : 1 to 6 : 1 significantly improved the cartilage structure and inhibited articular cartilage polysaccharide loss. Furthermore, the low proportion n-6/n-3 PUFA diets inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway by activating G-protein coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) to reduce inflammation and inhibit catabolism. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil (AKO), rich in phospholipid-type n-3 PUFA, had a better effect on OA than linseed oil (plant-derived n-3 PUFA), which may be due to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR γ). These findings suggested that the low proportion n-6/n-3 PUFA diets, particularly with AKO, alleviated inflammation and inhibited articular cartilage degeneration. Therefore, dietary intervention can be a potential treatment for OA.

Camel milk as an alternative treatment regimen for diabetes therapy

Camel milk is a valuable source of nutrition with a wide range of therapeutic effects. Its unique composition helps to regulate the blood glucose level. The current study is aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects, as well as lipid profile restoration of camel milk in the diabetic mouse model. This innovative study evaluates the therapeutic effects of camel milk in diabetic mice by simultaneous measurement of blood glucose, HbA1c, ALT, AST, TG, cholesterol, and histopathological studies. The results showed that camel milk has significantly reduced blood glucose, HbA1c (p < .001), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) (p < .01), triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol (p < .01), compared to that in the diabetic control group. Also, the therapeutic effects of camel milk were completely comparable with the antidiabetic drug glibenclamide. The results of this study suggest that camel milk could be used as a proper alternative treatment regimen for diabetes therapy.

Nephroprotective effect of Combretum micranthum G. Don in nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy in rats: In-vivo and in-silico experiments

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Combretum micranthum G. Don (CM) is extensively used in traditional medicine throughout West Africa and commonly known as "long-life herbal tea" or "plant to heal". Further, traditional healers frequently use the title plant to mitigate of renal disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the nephroprotective property of standardised hydroalcoholic extract of Combretum micranthum in nicotinamide-streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. In addition, in-silico computational experiments were performed with bioactive compounds of the title plant against PPARα and PPARγ.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Male rats were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of STZ (50 mg/kg), 15 min after ip administration of NA (100 mg/kg) dissolved in normal saline. The diabetic rats received CM extract (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) daily, for eight weeks. Body weights and blood glucose (non-fasting and fasting) of rats were measured weekly. Daily food and water consumption were also measured. After 8 weeks of treatment, urine biochemical parameters such as N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG), urea (UR), uric acid (UA), creatinine (CRE), and serum markers of diabetes, kidney damage and liver damage such as insulin, lipid parameters), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT), albumin (Alb), magnesium (Mg²⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), phosphorus (P), were estimated. Blood glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1_C) were also estimated. kidney and liver were used for biochemical estimation of oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. The kidney and pancreas were used for histopathological study. Further, HPLC chemoprofiling of CM extract and in-silico molecular simulation experiments were performed.

RESULTS

At the end of eight weeks, renal damage induced by the consequence of prolong diabetic condition was confirmed by altered levels of serum and urine kidney and liver function markers, oxidative stress markers and histopathological variations in kidney. Treatment with CM extract ameliorated the diabetes mellitus-induced renal biochemical parameters and histopathological changes. Further, HPLC-UV & MS experiments revealed that CM extract contains several bioactive compounds including hyperozide (62.35 μg/mg of extract) and quercitrin (19.07 μg/mg of extract). In-silico experiment exhibited cianidanol (-17.133), epicatechin (-15.107) exhibited higher docking score against PPARα and luteoforol (-11.038), epigallocatechin (-10.736) against PPARγ. Based on docking and drug likeness score, four bioactive compounds were selected for molecular dynamic experiments. Cianidanol and epigallocatechin out of the 30 compounds are concluded as a potential candidate for the treatment of DN through activating PPARα and PPARγ target protein.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the present study provided the scientific footage for the traditional use of Combretum micranthum.

Egg oil from Portunus trituberculatus alleviates insulin resistance through activation of insulin signaling in mice

Marine bioactive lipids have been utilized to overcome insulin resistance. However, oil from swimming crab has never been studied. Here, we analyzed the constituents of egg oil from Portunus trituberculatus (Pt-egg oil) and investigated its protective effects against insulin resistance in mice on a high-fat diet. The results showed that Pt-egg oil contained 52.05% phospholipids, 8.61% free fatty acids (especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), 32.38% triglyceride, 4.79% total cholesterol, and ditissimus astaxanthin. Animal experiments showed that Pt-egg oil significantly mitigated insulin resistance and was associated with reductions in blood glucose, insulin, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, serum lipids, and hepatic glycogen. Pt-egg oil activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glucose transporter 4 pathway in skeletal muscle both at the transcriptional level and at the translational level. Pt-egg oil also promoted hepatic glycogen synthesis through activation of the PI3K/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta pathway. These indicate that Pt-egg oil can be used as an alternative to marine bioactive lipids to improve insulin resistance.

Antioxidant and nephroprotection activities of Combretum micranthum: A phytochemical, in-vitro and ex-vivo studies

Management of chronic renal failure is exceedingly expensive. Despite of encouraging experimental outcomes, there is a lack of potent nephroprotective drugable molecules in a clinics or market. To develop a nephroprotective phytomedicine, the present study was designed to do a literature survey on reported phytochemical and biological analysis of Combretum micranthum and to carry out chemoprofiling, in-vitro antioxidant and ex-vivo nephroprotective capacity of the title plant. The phytochemical and biological activity survey of C. micranthum has reveals the presence of many bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and alkaloids with many biological activities. Phytochemical investigation re-confirmed the presence of these compounds. Hydroalcoholic extract of C. micranthum (CM extract) showed a strong antioxidant activity by scavenging AAPH, DPPH, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and chelating metal ions. CM extract exhibited significant (P < 0.001) dose dependent inhibition of ferric chloride-ascorbic acid induced lipid peroxidation. Diabetic nephropathy is a serious and common complication leading to end stage renal disease. Therefore, in the present study, glucose-induced toxicity was also studied in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) as an in vitro model for diabetic nephropathy. The results showed that exposure of cells to high glucose (100 mM) for 72 h significantly reduced the cell viability resulting in morphological changes such as cell shrinkage, rounded cell shape and cytoplasmic vacuolation. Treatment with CM extract at 10 and 25 μg/mL resulted in significant improvement in cell viability from 10 to 23% compared to the high glucose control. This study demonstrated the potential antioxidant and nephroprotective properties of C. micranthum, justifying its traditional use in the treatment of various diseases.

Effects of processing method on chemical compositions and nutritional quality of ready-to-eat sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus)

The effect of commercial processing methods on the nutritional value of ready-to-eat (RTE) sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicas was examined in this study. RTE sea cucumber products named RTE-T and RTE-V were prepared by two commercial methods, traditional processing, and vacuum cooking, respectively. Proximate, polysaccharide and mineral element composition, amino acid profiles, and true retention values of RTE sea cucumber products were evaluated and compared. Both commercial processing methods significantly changed the nutrient composition in RTE products, except that of Zn and Cu. Comparison of true retention values among RTE products showed that novel commercial method of vacuum cooking resulted in lower nutrient loss and had a shorter processing time than traditional processing. However, soaking after vacuum cooking significantly increased the nutrient loss of RTE sea cucumber. Therefore, vacuum cooking without soaking may be a promising alternative for producing RTE sea cucumber products with high nutritional quality.