Hypoglycemic effect of rosmarinic acid-rich infusion (RosCE) from Origanum vulgare in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Therapeutic potential of Brazilian green propolis and oregano (Origanum vulgare) extracts in collagen hydrogel for pressure ulcer repair: an experimental study in an animal model

This study investigated the effects of incorporating Brazilian green propolis ethanolic extract and oregano (Origanum vulgare) methanolic extract into type I collagen hydrogel to enhance pressure ulcer healing in mice. Forty-four mice were divided into four groups: untreated control, plain collagen hydrogel, collagen hydrogel with 1% green propolis extract, and collagen hydrogel with 1% oregano extract. Pressure ulcers were induced on their dorsal skin, followed by a 14-day assessment of wound area, contraction, re-epithelialization, dermal collagen density, and levels of reactive oxygen species and nitrite. Results showed significant tissue repair promotion by both propolis and oregano extracts, with oregano exhibiting superior wound contraction. These hydrogels also facilitated skin layer reorganisation and reduced reactive oxygen species and nitrite production. Collagen hydrogels containing these extracts show promising therapeutic potential for pressure ulcer treatment.

Salvia deserti Decne., an endemic and rare subshrub from Arabian desert: antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of leaf hydroethanolic extracts

Introduction

Diabetes is a major health issue that has reached alarming levels worldwide. Although their effectiveness, the antidiabetic drugs have many side effects such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and hepatic complications. Many plant species of the genus Salvia L. such as "Arabian desert sage" (Salvia deserti) should began to be the focus of phytochemical and bioactivity studies.

Methods

The study aims to investigate, first-ever, the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of the leaf hydroethanolic extract of S. deserti, an endemic and rare subshrub from Arabian desert. A single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (160 mg/kg) was used to induce type-2 diabetes. Development of diabetes was confirmed by measuring the blood glucose collected from the tail vein after 72 h of alloxan injection. Oral administration of hydroethanolic extracts of S. deserti at 200 and 400 mg/kg for 14 days were tested on the alloxan-induced diabetic mice and animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 mice each. The identity of phenolic compounds of the hydroethanolic extract of S. deserti was conducted through HPLC-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) analyses.

Results

Oral administration of hydroethanolic extract of S. deserti at 200 and 400 mg/kg for 14 days significantly decreased blood glucose and restored the hepatic and renal function by reducing the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, LDH, urea and creatinine. An improved lipid profile as revealed by the reduced levels of TC, TG and LDL coupled with increased level of HDL was also observed. Moreover, treatment with S. deserti hydroethanolic extract relieved oxidative stress (reduction of MDA and H2O2) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GPx. The presence of several phenolic compounds (derivatives of ferulic, coumaric, and caffeic acids, among other derivatives) could at least in part explain the obtained data and empower the use of S. deserti as a source of bioactive ingredients with antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties.

Discussion

Our research has unveiled S. deserti as a source of potential to effectively manage diabetes and its associated dyslipidemia by improving antioxidant status, recovery of the liver and kidney functions and presumably by increasing insulin secretion and sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin.

A Novel In Vivo Method Using Caenorhabditis elegans to Evaluate α-Glucosidase Inhibition by Natural Products for Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

BACKGROUND

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, is one of the diseases of greatest concern worldwide, and research into natural compounds that are capable of regulating glycemia and insulin resistance is therefore gaining importance. In the preclinical stages, Caenorhabditis elegans is considered a promising in vivo model for research into this disease. Most studies have been carried out using daf-2 mutant strains and observing changes in their phenotype rather than directly measuring the effects within the worms.

METHODS

We evaluated the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition of two oral formulations of Origanum vulgare before and after a simulated gastrointestinal digestion process. After confirming this activity, we developed a method to measure α-glucosidase inhibition in vivo in the C. elegans wild-type strain.

RESULTS

The crude extract showed a similar IC50 value to that of acarbose (positive control), before and after gastrointestinal digestion. Formulation 1 also showed no differences with the positive control after digestion (111.86 ± 1.26 vs. 110.10 ± 1.00 µL/mL; p = 0.282). However, formulation 2 showed a higher hypoglycemic activity (59.55 ± 0.85 µL/mL; p < 0.05). The IC50 values obtained in the in vivo assays showed results that correlated well with the in vitro results, so the proposed new method of direct quantification of the in vivo activity seems suitable for directly quantifying the effects of this inhibition without the need to measure changes in the phenotype.

CONCLUSION

A novel, simple and reliable method has been developed to directly determine pharmacological activities in an in vivo model of wild-type C. elegans. This allows the hypoglycemic activity to be directly attributed to in vivo treatment without quantifying phenotypic changes in mutant strains that may arise from other effects, opening the door to a simple analysis of in vivo pharmacological activities.

A validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of Brazilian green propolis main compounds

Brazilian green propolis is used in folk medicine because of its various biological properties. The hydroalcoholic extract of Brazilian green propolis is characteristic for possessing several pharmacological properties. Phytochemical investigations have attributed some of these properties to the presence of compounds, which were chosen as analytical markers. This paper reports the development and analytical validation using UPLC-MS/MS in MRM mode. Veratraldehyde was used as an internal standard in qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extracts. Relative standard deviation values obtained for intra-day and inter-day precision were lower than 4%. Of the five parameters for robustness, wavelength detection and flow rate were the critical ones. Limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.300 to 39.500 ng.mL-1 and from 1.400 to 85.00 ng.mL-1, respectively. The recoveries were between 94.00 and 119.00%, with relative standard deviation values around 5.0%. The developed method is precise, sensitive, and reliable for analysing Brazilian green propolis.

Overview of Ethnobotanical-Pharmacological Studies Carried Out on Medicinal Plants from the Serra da Estrela Natural Park: Focus on Their Antidiabetic Potential

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park (NPSE) in Portugal stands out as a well-preserved region abundant in medicinal plants, particularly known for their pharmaceutical applications in diabetes prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores these plants' botanical diversity, traditional uses, pharmacological applications, and chemical composition. The NPSE boast a rich diversity with 138 medicinal plants across 55 families identified as traditionally and pharmacologically used against diabetes globally. Notably, the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families are prevalent in antidiabetic applications. In vitro studies have revealed their significant inhibition of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, and certain plant co-products regulate genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin secretion. In vivo trials have demonstrated antidiabetic effects, including glycaemia regulation, insulin secretion, antioxidant activity, and lipid profile modulation. Medicinal plants in NPSE exhibit various activities beyond antidiabetic, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and more. Chemical analyses have identified over fifty compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides responsible for their efficacy against diabetes. These findings underscore the potential of NPSE medicinal plants as antidiabetic candidates, urging further research to develop effective plant-based antidiabetic drugs, beverages, and supplements.

In silico and in vitro elastase inhibition assessment assays of rosmarinic acid natural product from Rosmarinus officinalis Linn

The use of various herbs and their compounds has been a strategy widely used in the fight against various human diseases. For example, rosmarinic acid, a bioactive phenolic compound commonly found in Rosemary plants (Rosmarinus officinalis Labiatae), has multiple therapeutic benefits in different diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate in silico and in vitro the inhibition potential of the enzyme Elastase from the porcine pancreas by rosmarinic acid isolated from the plant species R. officinalis Linn. Through Molecular Docking, the mechanism of action was investigated. In addition, rosmarinic acid presented a range of 5-60 µg/mL and significantly inhibited Elastase. At 60 µg/mL, there was an inhibition of 55% on the enzymatic activity. The results demonstrate the inhibition of Elastase by rosmarinic acid, which can lead to the development of new enzyme inhibitors that can be an inspiration for developing various drugs, including anticancer drugs.

In vivo schistosomicidal activity of (±)-licarin A-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles

Schistosomiasis mansoni is an infectious parasitic disease caused by worms of the genus Schistosoma, and praziquantel (PZQ) is the medication available for the treatment of schistosomiasis. However, the existence of resistant strains reinforces the need to develop new schistosomicidal drugs safely and effectively. Thus, the (±)-licarin A neolignan incorporated into poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles and not incorporated were evaluated for their in vivo schistosomicidal activity. The (±)-licarin A -loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles and the pure (±)-licarin A showed a reduction in the number of worm eggs present in spleens of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. In addition, the (±)-licarin A incorporated in the concentration of 20 mg/Kg and 200 mg/Kg reduced the number of worms, presenting percentages of 56.3% and 41.7%, respectively.

Biomedical features and therapeutic potential of rosmarinic acid

For decades, the use of secondary metabolites of various herbs has been an attractive strategy in combating human diseases. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a bioactive phenolic compound commonly found in plants of Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae families. RA is biosynthesized using amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine via enzyme-catalyzed reactions. However, the chemical synthesis of RA involves an esterification reaction between caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxy phenyl lactic acid contributing two phenolic rings to the structure of RA. Several studies have ascertained multiple therapeutic benefits of RA in various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and liver diseases. Many previous scientific papers indicate that RA can be used as an anti-plasmodic, anti-viral and anti-bacterial drug. In addition, due to its high anti-oxidant capacity, this natural polyphenol has recently gained attention for its possible application as a nutraceutical compound in the food industry. Here we provide state-of-the-art, flexible therapeutic potential and biomedical features of RA, its implications and multiple uses. Along with various valuable applications in safeguarding human health, this review further summarizes the therapeutic advantages of RA in various human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the challenges associated with the clinical applicability of RA have also been discussed.