Phytochemical characterization of polyphenolic compounds with HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and evaluation of lipid-lowering capacity of aqueous extracts from Saharan plant Anabasis aretioides (Coss & Moq.) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Quality evaluation of Pterocephali Herba through simultaneously quantifying 18 bioactive components by UPLC-TQ-MS/MS analysis

Pterocephali Herba (PH), the dried whole plant of Pterocephalus hookeri, is a Tibetan medicine commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Iridoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids are the major groups of bioactive constituents from PH. However, only ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, two unspecific triterpenoid components, are used as markers for the quality control of PH in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Herein, an UPLC-TQ-MS/MS integrating SIR and MRM mode method for simultaneously quantifying 18 components, i.e., 9 iridoids, 3 triterpenoids, 3 phenylpropanoids, 2 flavonoids and quinic acid, in PH was developed and validated, and was used to evaluate 10 batches of PH samples from different origins. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to show the clustering of PH samples, while spearman correlation analysis was adopted to evaluate the correlation between ursolic acid/oleanolic acid and other quantified components. It was found that the established method was sensitive, precise, and accurate enough for the simultaneous quantification of 18 analytes in PH samples. Significant differences were found among the contents of 18 components in PH samples, no apparent clustering of the quality of PH samples was found to be related to its origins, and the contents of ursolic acid/oleanolic acid were only significantly correlated to the content of sylvestroside I, dipsanoside B, dipsanoside A in PH. Our results suggested that the newly established multi-components quantitative method is an improved approach for quality evaluation of PH samples. Furthermore, the holistic quality was inconsistent among PH samples, and ursolic acid/oleanolic acid alone could not indicate the holistic quality variation trend of PH.

Antihyperglycemic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Lippia citriodora in Rats

AIM

The study was conducted to assess the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Lippia citriodora.

BACKGROUND

Lippia citriodora Kunth (Verbenaceae) is a medicinal plant with many traditional uses.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract of Lippia citriodora and its capacity to improve the lipid profile in diabetic rats.

METHODS

Normal and diabetic rats were treated orally for 15 days by the leaves aqueous extract of Lippia citriodora (LCLAE) (100 mg/kg). The whole glucose utilization and liver architecture were also evaluated. The in vitro antioxidant activity of LCLAE was also assessed.

RESULTS

LCLAE lowered blood glucose and lipid levels in all groups. Moreover, LCLAE ameliorated the liver structure and exhibited antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of LCLAE in rats.

The relationship between serum triglyceride levels and acute pancreatitis in an animal model and a 14-year retrospective clinical study

Objectives

The aim of the current study was to evaluate influence of serum triglyceride levels on the course of acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods

Rats models of hypertriglyceridemic were used in animal experiments. Following induction of acute pancreatitis, amylase, and pancreas histological scores were all compared. In addition, in a clinical study, clinical data were collected from 1681 AP patients admitted from 2003 to 2016 who were divided into 4 groups based on their serum triglyceride (TG) levels. The clinical features among these 4 groups were compared, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed on TG values to estimate their relationship with severity.

Results

In animal experiments, the hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis (HTGP) group had markedly higher serum amylase, and histological scores relative to the other animal groups. In the clinical study, we identified significant differences in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), cost, and incidence of partial complications among the 4 TG-based groups. Importantly, the TG levels on day 3–4 after admission could be used to accurately predict disease severity.

Conclusions

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) can aggravate pancreatic injury, and hypertriglyceridemia patients are more likely to suffer from severe pancreatic injury with a higher possibility of complications. In addition, triglyceride levels are correlated with the severity of AP positively.

Anabasis aretioides Coss. & Moq. phenolic compounds exhibit in vitro hypoglycemic, antioxidant and antipathogenic properties

Background Based on our previous ethnobotanical survey, the non-investigated Saharan plant Anabasis aretioides Coss. & Moq., growing in the region of Errachidia, was selected for pharmacological investigation. In Moroccan traditional medicine, A. aretioides is being used for diabetes treatment. Thus, the current work aims at evaluating the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the plant in relation to the digestive tract. Methods The different parts of the plant (aerial parts, roots, seeds) were extracted with methanol (MeOH) and screened in enzymatic assays for their inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Furthermore, the phenolic compounds were analyzed using HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. Results The MeOH extracts of A. aretioides aerial parts, roots, and seeds, respectively, inhibited α-amylase (IC50 of 3148.07 μg/mL, 2440.20 μg/mL, 3395.71 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 of 2940.59 μg/mL, 3521.81 μg/mL, 3393.83 μg/mL). Moreover, compared to aerial parts and seeds, the plant roots exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and a potent reducing power. In resazurin microplate assay, the plant parts displayed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 7.81 mg/mL to 31.25 mg/mL. Chemical analysis revealed 25 phenolic compounds, with chlorogenic acid as the main phenolic compound in the aerial parts, hesperidin in roots, and quercitrin in seeds. Conclusion Anabasis aretioides cited for treatment of diabetes shows promising antioxidant and antibacterial properties, as well as an ability to inhibit digestive enzyme, including α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Thus, our results explain in part the traditional use of this Saharan medicine and open doors for further in vivo mechanistic and functional studies.