Hypoglycemia induced by Plasmodium berghei infection is prevented by treatment with Tinospora crispa stem extract

Time of day and circadian disruption influence host response and parasite growth in a mouse model of cerebral malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by infection with parasite Plasmodium spp. We studied the circadian regulation of host responses to the parasite, in a mouse model of cerebral malaria. The course of the disease was markedly affected by time of infection, with decreased parasitemia and increased inflammation upon infection in the middle of the night. At this time, there were fewer reticulocytes, which are target cells of the parasites. We next investigated the effects of desynchronization of host clocks on the infection: after 10 weeks of recurrent jet lags, mice showed decreased parasite growth and lack of parasite load rhythmicity, paralleled by a loss of glucose rhythm. Accordingly, disrupting host metabolic rhythms impacted parasite load rhythmicity. In summary, our findings of a circadian modulation of malaria parasite growth and infection shed light on aspects of the disease relevant to human malaria and could contribute to new therapeutic or prophylactic measures.

Higenamine in Plants as a Source of Unintentional Doping

BACKGROUND

Higenamine is a β₂ agonist of plant origin. The compound has been included in WADA's prohibited list since 2017. Higenamine may be detected in different plants and many food supplements of natural origin.

METHODS

Our literature search was conducted through PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Web of Science studies investigating the presence of higenamine in plants that are used in traditional folk medicine or included in food supplements. Our study aimed to assess the risk of adverse analytical findings caused by higenamine-containing plants.

RESULTS

Based on our literature search, Nelumbo nucifera, Tinospora crispa, Nandina domestica, Gnetum parvifolium, Asarum siebodii,Asarum heterotropoides, Aconitum carmichaelii, and Aristolochia brasiliensis are higenamine-containing plants. Based on data from Eastern folk medicine, these plants can provide numerous health benefits. Professional athletes likely ingest these plants without knowing that they contain higenamine; these herbs are used in treatments for different conditions and various foods/food supplements in addition to folk medicine.

CONCLUSION

Athletes and their teams must be aware of the issues associated with the use of plant-based products. They should avoid consuming higenamine-containing plants during and outside of competition periods.

Protective Effects of Gymnema inodorum Leaf Extract on Plasmodium berghei-Induced Hypoglycemia, Dyslipidemia, Liver Damage, and Acute Kidney Injury in Experimental Mice

Malaria complications are the most frequent cause of mortality from parasite infection. This study is aimed at investigating the protective effect of Gymnema inodorum leaf extract (GIE) on hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, liver damage, and acute kidney injury induced by Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Groups of ICR mice were inoculated with 1 × 10⁷ parasitized erythrocytes of P. berghei ANKA and administered orally by gavage with 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg of GIE for 4 consecutive days. Healthy and untreated controls were given distilled water, while the positive control was treated with 10 mg/kg of chloroquine. The results showed that malaria-associated hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, liver damage, and acute kidney injury were found in the untreated mice as indicated by the significant alteration of biological markers. On the contrary, in 250 and 500 mg/kg of GIE-treated mice, the biological markers were normal compared to healthy controls. The highest protective effect was found at 500 mg/kg similar to the CQ-treated group. However, GIE at a dose of 100 mg/kg did not show protection during malaria infection. This study demonstrated that GIE presented potential therapeutic effects on PbANKA-induced hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, liver damage, and acute kidney injury. The results obtained confirm the prospect of G. inodorum as an essential source of new antimalarial compounds and justify folkloric use as an alternative malarial treatment.

Medicinal Plants and Isolated Molecules Demonstrating Immunomodulation Activity as Potential Alternative Therapies for Viral Diseases Including COVID-19

Plants have been extensively studied since ancient times and numerous important chemical constituents with tremendous therapeutic potential are identified. Attacks of microorganisms including viruses and bacteria can be counteracted with an efficient immune system and therefore, stimulation of body's defense mechanism against infections has been proven to be an effective approach. Polysaccharides, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and lactones are the important phytochemicals, reported to be primarily responsible for immunomodulation activity of the plants. These phytochemicals may act as lead molecules for the development of safe and effective immunomodulators as potential remedies for the prevention and cure of viral diseases. Natural products are known to primarily modulate the immune system in nonspecific ways. A number of plant-based principles have been identified and isolated with potential immunomodulation activity which justify their use in traditional folklore medicine and can form the basis of further specified research. The aim of the current review is to describe and highlight the immunomodulation potential of certain plants along with their bioactive chemical constituents. Relevant literatures of recent years were searched from commonly employed scientific databases on the basis of their ethnopharmacological use. Most of the plants displaying considerable immunomodulation activity are summarized along with their possible mechanisms. These discussions shall hopefully elicit the attention of researchers and encourage further studies on these plant-based immunomodulation products as potential therapy for the management of infectious diseases, including viral ones such as COVID-19.