Alpha glucosidase inhibition by stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia

Comparative metabolic study of the chloroform fraction of three Cystoseira species based on UPLC/ESI/MS analysis and biological activities

This study aims to investigate the phytoconstituents of the chloroform fraction of three Cystoseira spp. namely C. myrica, C. trinodis, and C. tamariscifolia using UPLC/ESI/MS technique. The results revealed the identification of 19, 20 and 11 metabolites in C. myrica, C. trinodis, and C. tamariscifolia, respectively mainly terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and fatty acids. Also, an in vitro antioxidant study using FRAP and DPPH assays was conducted where the chloroform fraction of C. trinodis displayed the highest antioxidant activity in both assays, which would be attributed to its highest total phenolics and total flavonoids. Besides, the investigation of COX-1, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were performed. Regarding C. trinodis, it showed the strongest inhibitory activity towards COX-1. Moreover, it showed potent inhibitory activity towards α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes. According to the molecular docking studies, the major compounds characterised showed efficient binding to the active sites of the target enzymes.

Exploring anti-diabetic potential of compounds from roots of Dendrobium polyanthum Wall. ex Lindl. through inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes and glycation inhibitory activity

Eight compounds, including one anthraquinone, two bibenzyls, one phenanthrene, three dihydrophenanthrenes, and one flavonoid, were isolated from the roots of Dendrobium polyanthum Wall. ex Lindl. Among these, six compounds were investigated for inhibitory activities against alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) production. Additionally, molecular docking was conducted to analyze the interactions of the test compounds with alpha-glucosidase. Moscatin, the only isolated phenanthrene, displayed the strongest anti-alpha-glucosidase activity with an IC50 of 32.45 ± 1.04 μM, approximately 10-fold smaller than that of acarbose. Furthermore, moscatilin most strongly inhibited alpha-amylase and AGEs production with IC50 values of 256.94 ± 9.87 and 67.89 ± 9.42 μM, respectively. Molecular docking analysis revealed the effective binding of all substances to alpha-glucosidase with smaller lowest binding energy values than acarbose. Moscatin was selected for kinetics studies, and it was identified as a non-competitive inhibitor with approximately 9-fold greater inhibitory capability than acarbose. This study represents the first report on the phytochemical constituents and antidiabetic potential of compounds derived from the roots of D. polyanthum Wall. ex Lindl.

Indian herb Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora species: Phytochemical and therapeutic application

Clinical investigations are increasingly focusing on natural materials with medical benefits because, in contrast to medicines, they have extremely few adverse effects. Tinospora species of the Menispermaceae family has many bioactive principles for plant nutraceuticals. A thorough assessment of the existing literature revealed that Indian Tinospora species are an important group of medicinal herbs used for a variety of pharmacological activities. While, Tinospora cordifolia is widely recognized as a significant herb in the Indian System of Medicines (ISM) due to its bioactive components and has been used in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, urinary problems, fever, jaundice, helminthiasis, leprosy, dysentery, skin diseases, and many more. Using the search phrases "phytochemistry," "traditional uses," and "pharmacological evaluation of Indian Tinospora species," appropriate articles were carefully extracted from the MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and WOS databases. Around 180 articles, related to the India Tinospora species, were selected from a pool of 200 papers published between 1991 and 2023. T. cordifolia has received a lot of scientific attention because of its diverse therapeutic characteristics in treating various diseases. Our present study in this review encompasses 1.) Phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological potential of T. cordifolia as well as other Indian Tinospora species. 2.) Safety and toxicity study and available marketed formulation of T. cordifolia for the treatment of various diseases. The chemical constitution and pharmacological characteristics of other Tinospora species must also be investigated, indicating a need for further scientific research.

Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy): An insight on the multifarious pharmacological paradigms of a most promising medicinal ayurvedic herb

Medicinal herbs are being widely accepted as alternative remedies for preventing various diseases especially in India and other Asian countries. However, most plant-based herbal medicines are not yet being scientifically accepted worldwide. "Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook.F. & Thomson", one of the most promising plant species of Tinospora known as "Giloy" or Guduchi that is used in several traditional medicines in treating diseases e.g., metabolic and immune disorders, diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases, has been widely investigated. Varieties of bioactive phytochemical constituents isolated from the stem, root and whole plant of T. cordifolia have been identified. In the last two decades, the diverse pharmacological activities of T. cordifolia have been continuously studied. Due to its therapeutic efficacy in immune modulation, it could be effective in viral and other diseases treatment as well. A medicinal plant could be well-suited not only for the treatment of target site but also for boosting the body's immune system. As an alternate source of medication, medicinal herbs are continuously showing better compatibility with the human body with minimal side effects than other therapies. Keeping this in mind, the present review highlights the pharmacological potential of T. cordifolia against various diseases.

Natural feed additives and bioactive supplements versus chemical additives as a safe and practical approach to combat foodborne mycotoxicoses

This review highlights the possible hazard of mycotoxins occurrence in foods and feeds in regards to foodborne diseases. The possible management of the risk of contamination of foods and feeds with mycotoxins by using natural feed additives, protecting against deleterious effects of mycotoxins or inhibiting the growth of fungi and mycotoxin production, is deeply investigated in the available literature and some effective measures for safe utilization of mycotoxin contaminated feed/food are proposed. The biological methods of decontamination, degradation or biotransformation of mycotoxins are deeply analyzed and discussed. Some natural antagonists against target fungi are also reviewed and a comparison is made with conventional fungicides for ensuring a safe prevention of mycotoxin contamination. The most common and useful chemical methods of mycotoxins decontamination of agricultural commodities or raw materials are also investigated, e.g., chemical additives inactivating or destroying and/or adsorbing mycotoxins as well as chemical additives inhibiting the growth of fungi and mycotoxin production. The practical use and safety of various kind of feed/food additives or herbal/biological supplements as possible approach for ameliorating the adverse effects of some dangerous mycotoxins is deeply investigated and some suggestions are given. Various possibilities for decreasing mycotoxins toxicity, e.g., by clarifying the mechanisms of their toxicity and using some target antidotes and vitamins as supplements to the diet, are also studied in the literature and appropriate discussions or suggestions are made in this regard. Some studies on animal diets such as low carbohydrate intake, increased protein content, calorie restriction or the importance of dietary fats are also investigated in the available literature for possible amelioration of the ailments associated with mycotoxins exposure. It could be concluded that natural feed additives and bioactive supplements would be more safe and practical approach to combat foodborne mycotoxicoses as compared to chemical additives.

Unveiling Various Facades of Tinospora cordifolia Stem in Food: Medicinal and Nutraceutical Aspects

Natural products with curative properties are gaining immense popularity in scientific and food research, possessing no side effects in contrast to other drugs. Guduchi, or Tinospora cordifolia, belongs to the menispermaceae family of universal drugs used to treat various diseases in traditional Indian literature. It has received attention in recent decades because of its utilization in folklore medicine for treating several disorders. Lately, the findings of active phytoconstituents present in herbal plants and their pharmacological function in disease treatment and control have stimulated interest in plants around the world. Guduchi is ethnobotanically used for jaundice, diabetes, urinary problems, stomachaches, prolonged diarrhea, skin ailments, and dysentery. The treatment with Guduchi extracts was accredited to phytochemical constituents, which include glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, and diterpenoid lactones. This review places emphasis on providing in-depth information on the budding applications of herbal medicine in the advancement of functional foods and nutraceuticals to natural product researchers.

Diterpenoids and Their Glycosides from the Stems of Tinospora crispa with Beta-Cell Protective Activity

Seven previously undescribed diterpenoids, tinocrisposides A-D (1-4) and borapetic acids A (5), B (6), and C (7), together with 16 known compounds, were isolated from the stem of Tinospora crispa (Menispermaceae). The structures of the new isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The β-cell protective effect of the tested compounds was examined on insulin-secreting BRIN-BD11 cells under dexamethasone treatment. Diterpene glycosides 12, 14-16, and 18 presented a substantial protective effect on BRIN-BD11 cells treated with dexamethasone in a dose-dependent manner. Compounds 4 and 17 with two sugar moieties exhibited clear protective effects on β-cells.

OECD-407 Driven 28-day-repeated-dose non-clinical safety evaluation of Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) stem aqueous extract in Sprague-Dawley rats under GLP compliance

Introduction: Tinospora cordifolia (Wild.) Hook.f. & Thomson (Giloy), has been widely used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. However, some sporadic under-powered case studies have recently reported Tinospora cordifolia associated toxicity. Thus, following OECD 407 guidelines, a 28-day-repeated-dose-14-day-recovery toxicological evaluation of the aqueous extract of T. cordifolia stem (TCWE) was conducted under good laboratory practice (GLP), in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg/day of TCWE was given orally to designated treatment groups of either sex. Two separate 14-day recovery satellite groups received either vehicle control or 1000 mg/kg/day of TCWE. Results: In this study, TCWE was found safe up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day with no mortality or related toxicological manifestation in terms of clinical signs, ocular effects, hematology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry parameters, or macro- or microscopic changes in any organs. The satellite group did not show any adverse effect after 14-day recovery period. Thus, the No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) of TCWE was determined to be 1000 mg/kg/day. Discussion: In conclusion, this study established the non-clinical safety of the aqueous extract of T. cordifolia stem, which confirms the age-old safe medicinal use of this herb, and also paves the path for future clinical research on formulations containing Tinospora cordifolia.

Relevance of Indian traditional tisanes in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a review

Background

Tisanes are a potential source of phytochemicals to reduce disease risk conditions and are used to protect from non-communicable diseases, globally. A few tisanes have gained more popularity than others depending on their chemical composition based on the geographical origin of the used herb. Several Indian tisanes have been claimed to have traits beneficial to people with or at a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Under the concept, the literature was reviewed and compiled into a document to highlight the chemical uniqueness of popular Indian traditional tisanes to be more informative and potent as per modern medicine to overcome type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

An extensive literature survey was conducted using computerized database search engines, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EMBASE (Excerpta Medica database) for herbs that have been described for hyperglycemia, and involved reaction mechanism, in-vivo studies as well as clinical efficacies published since 2001 onwards using certain keywords. Compiled survey data used to make this review and all findings on Indian traditional antidiabetic tisanes are tabulated here.

Results

Tisanes render oxidative stress, counter the damage by overexposure of free radicals to the body, affect enzymatic activities, enhance insulin secretion, etc. The active molecules of tisanes also act as anti-allergic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, antiviral, antimutagenicity, anti-carcinogenicity, antiaging effects, etc. WHO also has a strategy to capitalize on the use of herbals to keep populations healthy through effective and affordable alternative means with robust quality assurance and strict adherence to the product specification.

Semisynthesis, biological activities, and mechanism studies of Mannich base analogues of magnolol/honokiol as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors

Magnolol and honokiol, derived from a Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils, are a class of natural biphenolic lignans. Currently, the discovery of new α-glucosidase inhibitors from natural analogues is of interest. Here, four series of thirty new Mannich base analogues of magnolol/honokiol were prepared and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Among these Mannich base analogues of magnolol/honokiol, 3k and 3l exhibited more potent inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase than the reference drug acarbose, and their IC50 values were 14.94 ± 0.17 µM and 13.78 ± 1.42 µM, respectively. Some interesting structure-activity relationships (SARs) were also analyzed. The enzyme inhibition kinetics indicated that 3k and 3l were noncompetitive inhibitors. This result was in agreement with molecular docking studies, where the binding sites of 3k and 3l to α-glucosidase were different from that of the competitive inhibitor acarbose to α-glucosidase. Moverover, compounds 3k and 3l exhibited low toxicity to normal cells (LO2). Thus, analogues 3k and 3l could be deeply developed for the discovery of natural products based antidiabetic candidates.

The Inhibition of α-Glucosidase, α-Amylase and Protein Glycation by Phenolic Extracts of Cotoneaster bullatus, Cotoneaster zabelii, and Cotoneaster integerrimus Leaves and Fruits: Focus on Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity and Kinetic Parameters

Cotoneaster species have gained significant importance in traditional Asian medicine for their ability to prevent and treat hyperglycemia and diabetes. Therefore, in this study, some aspects of the beneficial health effects of hydromethanolic extracts of C. bullatus, C. zabelii, and C. integerrimus leaves and fruits were evaluated, including their influence on α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and nonenzymatic protein glycation. The activity was investigated in relation to the polyphenolic profile of the extracts determined by UV-spectrophotometric and HPLC-PDA-fingerprint methods. It was revealed that all leaf and fruit extracts are a promising source of biological components (caffeic acid pseudodepsides, proanthocyanidins, and flavonols), and the leaf extracts of C. bullatus and C. zabelii contain the highest levels of polyphenols (316.3 and 337.6 mg/g in total, respectively). The leaf extracts were also the most effective inhibitors of digestive enzymes and nonenzymatic protein glycation. IC50 values of 8.6, 41.8, and 32.6 µg/mL were obtained for the most active leaf extract of C. bullatus (MBL) in the α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and glycation inhibition tests, respectively. In the kinetic study, MBL was displayed as a mixed-type inhibitor of both enzymes. The correlations between the polyphenol profiles and activity parameters (|r| > 0.72, p < 0.05) indicate a significant contribution of proanthocyanidins to the tested activity. These results support the traditional use of Cotoneaster leaves and fruits in diabetes and suggest their hydrophilic extracts be promising in functional applications.

Bio-Oriented Synthesis of Novel (S)-Flurbiprofen Clubbed Hydrazone Schiff’s Bases for Diabetic Management: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

A new series of (S)-flurbiprofen derivatives 4a–4p and 5a–5n were synthesized with different aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes and ketones to produce Schiff’s bases and their structures were confirmed through HR-ESI-MS, ¹H, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the newly synthesized compounds were scrutinized, in which six compounds 5k, 4h, 5h, 4d, 4b, and 5i showed potent inhibition in the range of 0.93 to 10.26 µM, respectively, whereas fifteen compounds 4c, 4g, 4i, 4j, 4l, 4m, 4o, 4p, 5c, 5d, 5j, 5l, 5m, 5n and 1 exhibited significant inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ in range of = 11.42 to 48.39 µM. In addition, compounds 5g, 5f, 4k, 4n, and 4f displayed moderate-to-low activities. The modes of binding of all the active compounds were determined through the molecular docking approach, which revealed that two residues, specifically Glu277 and His351 are important in the stabilization of the active compounds in the active site of α-glucosidase. Furthermore, these compounds block the active site with high binding energies (−7.51 to −3.36 kcal/mol) thereby inhibiting the function of the enzyme.

Exploring ibuprofen derivatives as α-glucosidase and lipoxygenase inhibitors: Cytotoxicity and in silico studies

This study reports the synthesis of a series of ibuprofen derivatives, including thiosemicarbazides 4a-f, 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 5a-f, 1,3,4-thiadiazoles 6a-f, 1,2,4-triazoles 7a-f, and their S-alkylated derivatives 8a-d. All of the newly synthesized derivatives were analyzed using ¹ H NMR, ¹³ C NMR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectra (electron ionization) spectrometry. These synthetic molecules were examined for their in vitro baking yeast α-glucosidase and soybean 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) inhibition and cell viability studies. The results revealed that the compounds N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-[1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amine 5f (IC₅₀ 3.05 ± 1.23 µM) and N-(3-fluorophenyl)-5-[1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amine 5b (IC₅₀ 3.12 ± 1.21 µM) were the most potent with respect to the α-glucosidase enzyme while in case of 15-LOX, the compound 4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoyl]thiosemicarbazide 4e showed potent inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 55.41 ± 0.41 µM. All these compounds were found least toxic by displaying a blood mononuclear cell viability value of 69.2%-97.8% by the MTT assay compared to the standards when assayed at 0.25 mM concentration. Molecular docking analyses were conducted to evaluate the inhibition profiles of these derivatives against the said enzymes and the data supported the in vitro profiles.

In vitro differentiation of human pancreatic duct-derived PANC-1 cells into β-cell phenotype using Tinospora cordifolia

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disorder leading to loss of beta cells. There is a dire need to inhibit apoptosis and induce regeneration of new beta cells. There are plants in the Indian medicine system having the potential for rejuvenation. In the present study, we have attempted to evaluate the capacity of aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia to regenerate beta cells from PANC-1 ductal cells. After differentiation, the characterization of β-cell phenotype was carried out using dithizone and Gomori's staining and further confirmed by mRNA expression study of insulin, Pdx-1, and carbonic anhydrase-9. Insulin production was estimated with ELISA. Aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia at 15 μg/ml concentration can effectively induce differentiation of PANC-1 cells into beta cells. The morphological observations showed brownish-colored dithizone and purple-colored Gomori's staining. The β-cells demonstrated significant mRNA expression of insulin and Pdx-1 and downregulation of carbonic anhydrase-9. The functionality of beta cells was demonstrated by 1.5-fold increase in insulin secretion in response to high glucose. Tinospora cordifolia has potential to differentiate PANC-1 ductal cells into functional beta cells and can be a lead towards non-invasive treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity and Anti-Adipogenic Effect of Compounds from Dendrobium delacourii

Chemical investigation of Dendrobium delacourii revealed 11 phenolic compounds, and the structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of their NMR and HR-ESI-MS data. All compounds were investigated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and anti-adipogenic properties. Phoyunnanin E (10) and phoyunnanin C (11) showed the most potent α-glucosidase inhibition by comparing with acarbose, which was used as a positive control. Kinetic study revealed the non-competitive inhibitors against the enzyme. For anti-adipogenic activity, densifloral B (3) showed the strongest inhibition when compared with oxyresveratrol (positive control). In addition, densifloral B might be responsible for the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation via downregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), which are major transcription factors in adipogenesis.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers: Protection mechanisms and strategies against oxidative stress-related diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers (Menispermaceae) is a Mediterranean herb, used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and folk medicines. The herb is also used in conventional medicine to treat oxidative stress-related diseases and conditions, including inflammation, pain, diarrhea, asthma, respiratory infections, cancer, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The taxonomy, botanical classification, geographical distribution, and ethnobotanical uses of T. cordifolia, as well as the phytochemical compounds found in the herb, the toxicology of and pharmacological and clinical studies on the effects of T. cordifolia are all covered in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To gather information on T. cordifolia, we used a variety of scientific databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. The information discussed focuses on biologically active compounds found in T. cordifolia, and common applications and pharmacological activity of the herb, as well as toxicological and clinical studies on its properties.

RESULTS

The findings of this study reveal a connection between the use of T. cordifolia in conventional medicine and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and other biological effects. The entire plant, stem, leaves, root, and extracts of T. cordifolia have been shown to have a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impact. Toxicological testing demonstrated that this plant may have medicinal applications. T. cordifolia contains a variety of biologically active compounds from various chemical classes, including alkaloids, terpenoids, sitosterols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Based on the reports researched for this review, we believe that chemicals in T. cordifolia may activate Nrf2, which leads to the overexpression of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, GPx, GST, and GR, and thereby induces the adaptive response to oxidative stress. T. cordifolia is also able to reduce NF-κB signalling by inhibiting PI3K/Akt, activating AMPK and sirtuins, and downregulating PI3K/Akt.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that the pharmacological properties displayed by T. cordifolia back up its conventional uses. Antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective activities were all demonstrated in T. cordifolia stem extracts. To validate pharmacodynamic targets, further research is needed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of the known compounds against gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory processes, and microbial infections, as immunostimulants, and in chemotherapy. The T. cordifolia safety profile was confirmed in a toxicological analysis, which prompted pharmacokinetic assessment testing to confirm its bioavailability.

β-Aldehyde ketones as dual inhibitors of aldose reductase and α-glucosidase with antioxidant properties

The synthesized β-aldehyde ketone compounds have strong biological activity because of their ionizable hydroxyl groups.

GC-MS Analysis and Biomedical Therapy of Oil from n-Hexane Fraction of Scutellaria edelbergii Rech. f.: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Approach

The current study aimed to explore the crude oils obtained from the n-hexane fraction of Scutellaria edelbergii and further analyzed, for the first time, for their chemical composition, in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and in vivo anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. For the phytochemical composition, the oils proceeded to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and from the resultant chromatogram, 42 bioactive constituents were identified. Among them, the major components were linoleic acid ethyl ester (19.67%) followed by ethyl oleate (18.45%), linolenic acid methyl ester (11.67%), and palmitic acid ethyl ester (11.01%). Tetrazolium 96-well plate MTT assay and agar-well diffusion methods were used to evaluate the isolated oil for its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀), and zone of inhibitions that could determine the potential antimicrobial efficacy's. Substantial antibacterial activities were observed against the clinical isolates comprising of three Gram-negative bacteria, viz., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and one Gram-positive bacterial strain, Enterococcus faecalis. The oils were also effective against Candida albicans and Fusarium oxysporum when evaluated for their antifungal potential. Moreover, significant antioxidant potential with IC₅₀ values of 136.4 and 161.5 µg/mL for extracted oil was evaluated through DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) and ABTS assays compared with standard ascorbic acid where the IC50 values were 44.49 and 67.78 µg/mL, respectively, against the tested free radicals. The oils was also potent, inhibiting the α-glucosidase (IC50 5.45 ± 0.42 µg/mL) enzyme compared to the standard. Anti-glucosidase potential was visualized through molecular docking simulations where ten compounds of the oil were found to be the leading inhibitors of the selected enzyme based on interactions, binding energy, and binding affinity. The oil was found to be an effective anti-inflammatory (61%) agent compared with diclofenac sodium (70.92%) via the carrageenan-induced assay. An appreciable (48.28%) analgesic activity in correlation with the standard aspirin was observed through the acetic acid-induced writhing bioassay. The oil from the n-hexane fraction of S. edelbergii contained valuable bioactive constituents that can act as in vitro biological and in vivo pharmacological agents. However, further studies are needed to uncover individual responsible compounds of the observed biological potentials which would be helpful in devising novel drugs.

Some Indian herbs have protective effects against deleterious effects of ochratoxin A in broiler chicks

A protective effect of two herbs, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Tinospora cordifolia, given as feed additives was observed against the growth inhibitory effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) and associated immunosuppression and biochemical or pathomorphological changes. The feed levels of 3 mg/kg OTA and fine powder of one of both herbs were given during a period of 32 days to female broiler chicks divided into 3 experimental and 1 control groups (14 chicks per group). The observed pathological and biochemical changes, the changes in relative organs’ weight and body weight, and the decrease of antibody titer against Newcastle disease were more pronounced in the OTA-treated chicks without herbal supplementation, and less pronounced in the chicks treated additionally with G. glabra or T. cordifolia as was shown by the better feed performance and the higher body weight in the chicks treated with the herbs. The higher relative weight of lymphoid organs of the chicks supplemented with both herbs revealed their beneficial effects on the immune system. The hepatoprotective effect of both herbs was evident, being stronger in the chicks additionally supplemented with G. glabra shown by the pathomorphological findings and by the lower levels of aspartate transaminase (131.1 U/l) compared to chicks given only OTA (156.0 U/l). A protective effect of T. cordifolia on the bone marrow and kidneys was found as was shown by the lower levels of uric acid (382.9 μmol/l) compared to chicks given only OTA (466.9 μmol/l).

Pharmaceutical Drugs and Natural Therapeutic Products for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most widespread form of diabetes, characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, and inefficient insulin secretion and action. Primary care in T2DM is pharmacological, using drugs of several groups that include insulin sensitisers (e.g., biguanides, thiazolidinediones), insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulphonylureas, meglinides), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and the newest incretin-based therapies and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors. However, their long-term application can cause many harmful side effects, emphasising the importance of the using natural therapeutic products. Natural health substances including non-flavonoid polyphenols (e.g., resveratrol, curcumin, tannins, and lignans), flavonoids (e.g., anthocyanins, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, naringin, rutin, and kaempferol), plant fruits, vegetables and other products (e.g., garlic, green tea, blackcurrant, rowanberry, bilberry, strawberry, cornelian cherry, olive oil, sesame oil, and carrot) may be a safer alternative to primary pharmacological therapy. They are recommended as food supplements to prevent and/or ameliorate T2DM-related complications. In the advanced stage of T2DM, the combination therapy of synthetic agents and natural compounds with synergistic interactions makes the treatment more efficient. In this review, both pharmaceutical drugs and selected natural products, as well as combination therapies, are characterized. Mechanisms of their action and possible negative side effects are also provided.

In-Vitro α-amylase, α-glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and In-Vivo Anti-Hyperglycemic Potential of Different Dosage Forms of Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia [Willd.] Miers) Prepared With Ayurvedic Bhavana Process

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia [Willd.] Miers) is a flagship rejuvenating herb of Ayurveda with reported anti-diabetic potential. In the present study, different dosage forms of Guduchi stem (growing on neem tree) were developed by adopting Ayurvedic pharmaceutical process of Bhavana (levigation). Guduchi Churna (GC) was subjected to 07 times Bhavana separately with its own extracted juice, decoction and potable water, and dosage forms namely Svarasa Bhavita Guduchi Churna (SBGC), Kwatha Bhavita Guduchi Churna (KBGC), and Jala Bhavita Guduchi Churna (JBGC) were prepared. The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of Bhavana on the potentiation of therapeutic properties of Guduchi. Sequential solvent extracts (5, 10, 15 and 25%) of GC, SBGC, KBGC and JBGC were prepared in different solvents [phosphate buffer, hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), chloroform] and screened for the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results revealed that phosphate buffer and DCM extracts of SBGC exhibited strong α-amylase inhibitory potential (>80% inhibition at 25% concentration) followed by KBGC, JBGC and GC with reference to the standard acarbose. In α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, maximum inhibition was observed in DCM and chloroform extracts of SBGC (>85% inhibition at 25% concentration), followed by KBGC (>80% inhibition at 25% concentration), JBGC and GC. In vivo anti-hyperglycemic studies were carried out by oral glucose tolerance test in Swiss albino mice. Test drugs (JBGC, KBGC, SBGC) treated groups showed marginal decrease of blood glucose levels in normo glycemic mice. However, the blood glucose level in test drug JBGC, KBGC and SBGC treated groups was still within normal range in overnight fasted mice. In oral glucose tolerance test, among all dosage forms SBGC (51.08%) produced pronounced anti-hyperglycemic effect followed by KBGC (42.57%) at a dose of 520 mg/kg. The GC, JBGC, KBGC and SBGC samples were also standardized using berberine (a well established anti-diabetic compound) as a marker compound by HPTLC fingerprint analysis. Findings of the present study indicate that SBGC and KBGC can be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and gives supporting evidence to Ayurvedic claims that the Bhavana process has pharmaceutico-therapeutic significance in Ayurvedic drug development.

Three Novel Biphenanthrene Derivatives and a New Phenylpropanoid Ester from Aerides multiflora and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

A phytochemical investigation on the whole plants of Aerides multiflora revealed the presence of three new biphenanthrene derivatives named aerimultins A-C (1-3) and a new natural phenylpropanoid ester dihydrosinapyl dihydroferulate (4), together with six known compounds (5-10). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data. All of the isolates were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Aerimultin C (3) showed the most potent activity. The other compounds, except for compound 4, also exhibited stronger activity than the positive control acarbose. Compound 3 showed non-competitive inhibition of the enzyme as determined from a Lineweaver-Burk plot. This study is the first phytochemical and biological investigation of A. multiflora.

Tinospora cordifolia ameliorates brain functions impairments associated with high fat diet induced obesity

Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem worldwide and its prevalence has increased markedly in both the developing and developed nations. It is associated with a range of co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cognitive dysfunctions. Therefore, the need for a safe and effective treatment has led to the exploration of natural products for the management of obesity. In the present study, we tested the anxiolytic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Tinospora cordifolia in a high fat diet-induced obesity rat model system. Young female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: (1) Low fat diet (LFD), fed on normal chow feed; (2) High fat diet (HFD), fed on diet containing 30% fat by weight; and (3) High fat diet containing extract (HFDE), fed on high fat diet supplemented with the stem powder of T. cordifolia (TCP). The rats from each group were kept on their respective feeding regimen for 12 weeks. The body weight and calorie intake were recorded weekly. The elevated plus maze test and rotarod performance test were performed to evaluate the anxiety-like behavior and locomotor coordination, respectively. The levels of serum cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were estimated and various markers for inflammation, synaptic plasticity, apoptosis, and energy homeostasis were studied by western blotting. The HFDE rats showed reduced anxiety-like behavior and improved locomotor behavior as compared to HFD-induced obese rats. The TCP supplementation in high fat diet suppressed the expression of inflammatory molecules, including serum cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), and modulated apoptosis and synaptic plasticity. TCP was found to be effective in managing body weight in HFD-fed rats by maintaining energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis. T. cordifolia may be recommended as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent the adverse effects of obesity and obesity-associated brain dysfunctions.

Discovery, biological evaluation and docking studies of novel N-acyl-2-aminothiazoles fused (+)-nootkatone from Citrus paradisi Macf. as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors

Nowadays, the discovery and development of α-glucosidase inhibitors from natural products or their derivatives represents an attractive approach. Here we reported studies on a series of novel N-acyl-2-aminothiazoles fused (+)-nootkatone and evaluation for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Most of (+)-nootkatone derivatives exhibited more potent α-glucosidase inhibitory ability than the positive drug acarbose. In particular, compounds II7 and II14 showed the most promising α-glucosidase inhibitory ability with IC₅₀ values of 13.2 and 13.8 µM. II7 and II14 also exhibited relatively low cytotoxicities towards normal LO2 cells. Kinetic study indicated that compounds II7 and II14 inhibited the α-glucosidase in a noncompetitive manner, and molecular docking results were in line with the noncompetitive characteristics that II7 and II14 did not bind to the known active sites (Asp214, Glu276 and Asp349). Based on our findings, these (+)-nootkatone derivatives could be used as antidiabetic candidates.

Indian Traditional medicinal plants as a source of potent Anti-diabetic agents: A Review

Objective

The present review aims to provide an overview of traditional medicinal plants known to be of anti-diabetic potential.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using the scientific databases including PubMed, EMBASE and google scholar and a total of fifty herbs have been described and their possible mechanism of anti-diabetic action has been mentioned. Among them, in-depth discussion on five most potent anti-diabetic herbs has been provided with respect to their mechanism of action, in-vivo studies and clinical efficacies.

Results

The present review has highlighted the usefulness of the herbal source for the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus. With the help of previous literature published on In-vivo animal studies and human clinical studies; the effectiveness of Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Trigonella foenum graecum, Tinospora cordifolia and Curcuma longa in the treatment and management of Diabetes has been proved.

Conclusion

Based on this review it can be concluded that herbs can serve as more efficient, safer, and cost-effective adjuvant therapy in the management and treatment of diabetes. Further investigations mainly focusing on the isolation of phytocompounds from these herbs can lead to the discovery of newer antidiabetic agents.

Triterpenic Acids as Non-Competitive α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Boswellia elongata with Structure-Activity Relationship: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Fourteen triterpene acids, viz., three tirucallane-type (1-3), eight ursane-type (4-11), two oleanane-type (12, 13) and one lupane type (21), along with boswellic aldehyde (14), α-amyrine (15), epi-amyrine (16), straight chain acid (17), sesquiterpene (19) and two cembrane-type diterpenes (18, 20) were isolated, first time, from the methanol extract of Boswellia elongata resin. Compound (1) was isolated for first time as a natural product, while the remaining compounds (2‒21) were reported for first time from B. elongata. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by advanced spectroscopic techniques including mass spectrometry and also by comparison with the reported literature. Eight compounds (1-5, 11, 19 and 20) were further screened for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 3-5 and 11 showed significant activity against α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values ranging from 9.9-56.8 μM. Compound 4 (IC₅₀ = 9.9 ± 0.48 μM) demonstrated higher inhibition followed by 11 (IC₅₀ = 14.9 ± 1.31 μM), 5 (IC₅₀ = 20.9 ± 0.05 μM) and 3 (IC₅₀ = 56.8 ± 1.30 μM), indicating that carboxylic acid play a key role in α-glucosidase inhibition. Kinetics studies on the active compounds 3-5 and 11 were carried out to investigate their mechanism (mode of inhibition and dissociation constants K_i). All compounds were found to be non-competitive inhibitors with K_i values in the range of 7.05 ± 0.17-51.15 ± 0.25 µM. Moreover, in silico docking was performed to search the allosteric hotspot for ligand binding which is targeted by our active compounds investigates the binding mode of active compounds and it was identified that compounds preferentially bind in the allosteric binding sites of α-glucosidase. The results obtained from docking study suggested that the carboxylic group is responsible for their biologic activities. Furthermore, the α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of the active compounds is reported here for the first time.

α-Glucosidase Inhibition and Molecular Docking Studies of Natural Brominated Metabolites from Marine Macro Brown Alga Dictyopteris hoytii

Bioassay guided isolation of the methanolic extract of marine macro brown alga Dictyopteris hoytii afforded one new metabolite (ethyl methyl 2-bromobenzene 1,4-dioate, 1), one new natural metabolite (diethyl-2-bromobenzene 1,4-dioate, 2) along with six known metabolites (3-8) reported for the first time from this source. The structure elucidation of all these compounds was achieved by extensive spectroscopic techniques including 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (NOESY, COSY, HMBC and HSQC) NMR and mass spectrometry and comparison of the spectral data of known compounds with those reported in literature. The in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition studies confirmed compound 7 to be the most active against α-glucosidase enzyme with IC50 value of 30.5 ± 0.41 μM. Compounds 2 and 3 demonstrated good inhibition with IC50 values of 234.2 ± 4.18 and 289.4 ± 4.91 μM, respectively, while compounds 1, 5, and 6 showed moderate to low inhibition. Furthermore, the molecular docking studies of the active compounds were performed to examine their mode of inhibition in the binding site of the α-glucosidase enzyme.

The chemical constituents and diverse pharmacological importance of Tinospora cordifolia

Tinospora cordifolia is a popular medicinal plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. The common names are Amrita and Guduchi and belong to the family of Menispermaceae. It is considered an essential herbal plant of Indian system of medicine (ISM) and has been used in the treatment of fever, urinary problem, dysentery, skin diseases leprosy, diabetes, and many more diseases. The plant reported containing chemical compound including Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Lignans, Steroids and others that establish the phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Tinospora cordifolia. The present review highlights the pharmacological importance viz antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, anti-diabetic activity, antistress activity, hypolipidaemic effect, hepatic disorder, anticancer anti HIV potential, antiosteoporotic effects, antitoxic effects, wound healing, anticomplementary activity, and immunomodulating activity, systemic infection and Parkinson's disease.

Ethnomedicinal plants and traditional knowledge among three Chin indigenous groups in Natma Taung National Park (Myanmar)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

This research describes the ethnomedicinal plants as used by three Chin indigenous groups inhabiting areas at Natma Taung National Park (NTNP) in bio-culturally diverse Myanmar. The aim of this study was (1) to identify wild medicinal species and evaluate their local importance in local peoples' healthcare as well as in protected area conservation; and (2) to compare traditional medicinal plant knowledge among the informants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 206 Müün, Ng'gah and Daai informants from 20 villages were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Species use-reports were computed to determine plant local importance and the informant consensus factor. Descriptive and the inferential statistics Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to evaluate and compare the informants' traditional medicinal knowledge.

RESULTS

A total of 75 wild ethnomedicinal taxa in 40 plant families across 16 ICPC-based disease categories were recorded. Species which recorded the highest number of use-reports appeared to play an important role not only in informants' primary healthcare and in park conservation, but also in local livelihood.

CONCLUSION

This study presents the diversity of ethnomedicinal plants and their local importance in Chin indigenous peoples' healthcare. This paper also recognizes the value of these plants and the local traditional knowledge for the conservation and management of NTNP.

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Tinospora cordifolia

Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae) is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and China. The whole plant is used in folk and the Ayurvedic system of medicine alone and in combination with other plants. Due to its commercial importance, T. cordifolia has been of intense research interest for the last four decades with the isolation of diverse compounds such as alkaloids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, phenolics, steroids, aliphatic compounds and polysaccharides, along with the discovery of a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties like immunomodulation, anticancer, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic. Although pharmacological activities of extracts and compounds of T. cordifolia have been studied both in vitro and in vivo, only few mechanisms of action have been explored and need further elaboration. In the present review, the pharmacological activities of compounds and different extracts of T. cordifolia are highlighted, along with those of the marketed products, showing the relevance of phytochemicals and the standardization of the marketed products for medicinal use. This compilation of the extensive literature of T. cordifolia here will be a referral point for clinical study and the development of standardized phytomedicines in healthcare.

Xanthium strumarium as an Inhibitor of α-Glucosidase, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1β, Protein Glycation and ABTS⁺ for Diabetic and Its Complication

Phytochemical investigation of the natural products from Xanthium strumarium led to the isolation of fourteen compounds including seven caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives. The individual compounds were screened for inhibition of α-glucosidase, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1β (PTP1β), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activity using in vitro assays. Among the isolated compounds, methyl-3,5-di-caffeoyquinic acid exhibited significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (18.42 μM), PTP1β (1.88 μM), AGEs (82.79 μM), and ABTS⁺ (6.03 μM). This effect was marked compared to that of the positive controls (acarbose 584.79 μM, sumarin 5.51 μM, aminoguanidine 1410.00 μM, and trolox 29.72 μM respectively). In addition, 3,5-di-O-CQA (88.14 μM) and protocatechuic acid (32.93 μM) had a considerable inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase and ABTS⁺. Based on these findings, methyl-3,5-di-caffeoyquinic acid was assumed to be potentially responsible for the anti-diabetic actions of X. strumarium.

Synthesis, molecular docking and α-glucosidase inhibition of 5-aryl-2-(6'-nitrobenzofuran-2'-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Twenty derivatives of 5-aryl-2-(6'-nitrobenzofuran-2'-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (1-20) were synthesized and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Compounds containing hydroxyl and halogens (1-6, and 8-18) were found to be five to seventy folds more active with IC50 values in the range of 12.75±0.10-162.05±1.65μM, in comparison with the standard drug, acarbose (IC50=856.45±5.60μM). Current study explores the α-glucosidase inhibition of a hybrid class of compounds of oxadiazole and benzofurans. These findings may invite researchers to work in the area of treatment of hyperglycemia. Docking studies showed that most compounds are interacting with important amino acids Glu 276, Asp 214 and Phe 177 through hydrogen bonds and arene-arene interaction.

Purification and characterization of oligonucleotide binding (OB)-fold protein from medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia

The oligonucleotide binding fold (OB-fold) is a small structural motif present in many proteins. It is originally named for its oligonucleotide or oligosaccharide binding properties. These proteins have been identified as essential for replication, recombination and repair of DNA. We have successfully purified a protein contains OB-fold from the stem of Tinospora cordifolia, a medicinal plants of north India. Stems were crushed and centrifuged, and fraction obtained at 60% ammonium sulphate was extensively dialyzed and applied to the weak anion exchange chromatography on Hi-Trap DEAE-FF in 50mM Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8.0. Eluted fractions were concentrated and applied to gel filtration column to get pure protein. We observed a single band of 20-kDa on SDS-PAGE. Finally, the protein was identified as OB-fold by MALDI-TOF. The purified OB-fold protein was characterized for its secondary structural elements using circular dichroism (CD) in the far-UV region. Generally the OB-fold has a characteristic feature as five-stranded beta-sheet coiled to form a closed beta- barrel. To estimate its chemical stability, guanidinium chloride-induced denaturation curve was followed by observing changes in the far-UV CD as a function of the denaturant concentration. Analysis of this denaturation curve gave values of 8.90±0.25kcalmol(-1) and 3.78±0.18M for ΔGD° (Gibbs free energy change at 25°C) and Cm (midpoint of denaturation), respectively. To determine heat stability parameters of OB-fold protein, differential scanning calorimetry was performed. Calorimetric values of ΔGD°, Tm (midpoint of denaturation), ΔHm (enthalpy change at Tm), and ΔCp (constant-pressure heat capacity change) are 9.05±0.27kcalmol(-1), 85.2±0,3°C, 105±4kcalmol(-1) and 1.6±0.08kcalmol(-1)K(-1). This is the first report on the isolation, purification and characterization of OB-fold protein from a medicinal plant T. cordifolia.