Molecular Action of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Hyperglycemic Rats: Effect of Different Concentrations ofPterocarpus marsupiumsExtract

Vitamin C supplementation lowers advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

This study evaluated how daily vitamin C administration impacts systemic oxidative stress and inflammation and its safety in T2D patients. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial included 70 patients with T2D. They were allocated to receive either 500 mg/day of vitamin C or a matching placebo for 8 weeks. Of the 70 subjects assigned to the trial, 57 were included in the statistical analysis (vitamin C: n = 32, placebo: n = 25). Inflammatory and oxidative markers, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were measured at baseline and the end of the trial. In addition, vitamin C tolerance was evaluated. A nutritionist visited all participants for a standard diabetic regimen. Following vitamin C supplementation, the serum levels of MDA (p-value < .001) and AGEs (p-value = .002) demonstrated a significant decrease after controlling for multiple confounders, including age, blood pressure, waist circumference, HbA1C, TG, and LDL-C, while no significant changes were observed for AOPP (p-value = .234) and ox-LDL (p-value = .480). The FRAP showed an increasing trend as an antioxidant marker but was not statistically significant (p-value = .312). The hs-CRP and TNF-α had no significant changes (p-value: .899 and .454, respectively). Also, no major adverse events were observed. Vitamin C supplementation may be beneficial in reducing AGEs and MDA in patients with T2D.

Myrtenal attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of myrtenal on diabetes-associated oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and inflammation using a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Following the induction of diabetes in male Wistar rats using STZ (40 mg/kg body weight), myrtenal (80 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally to diabetic rats for four weeks and then sacrificed to harvest tissues. We measured the levels of antioxidants, LPO, and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB p65). Diabetic rats revealed increased levels of LPO, proinflammatory cytokines, and NF-kB p65, and decreased levels of antioxidants in the liver and pancreas. Supplementation with myrtenal significantly attenuated the diabetes-induced changes in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Our findings suggest that myrtenal may serve as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent against diabetes-associated oxidative stress and inflammation.HighlightsOral administration of myrtenal improved the antioxidant status in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats.Myrtenal treatment diminished inflammation in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats.Myrtenal supplementation averts oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic rats.Myrtenal could serve as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the management of diabetes.

Genus Pterocarpus: A review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and clinical evidence

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Pterocarpus (Fabaceae) has about 46 species that are distributed over Asia, especially Indonesia, Africa, and several countries in America. Particularly, P. indicus and P. santalinus have been recorded as ancestor recipe in the old Indonesian book (Cabe puyang warisan nenek moyang). These plants have found application in traditional medicine, such as in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, gonorrhoea, infection, coughs, mouth ulcers, boils, diarrhoea, as well as in the management of pain (as an analgesic).

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present review aimed to comprehensively summarise the current researches on the traditional and scientific applications of the genus Pterocarpus with regard to the phytochemical content, in vivo and in vitro bioactivities, as well as clinical evidence that may be useful for future drug development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information about the Pterocarpus genus were obtained from local classic herbal literature and electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The scientific name of the species and its synonyms were checked with the information of The Plant List. Additionally, clinical trial results were obtained from the Cochrane library.

RESULTS

Several phytochemical constituents of the plants, e.g., flavonoids, isoflavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids have been reported. There are about 11 species of Pterocarpus that have been scientifically studied for their biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, analgesic, and anti-hyperglycemic. Of which, the anti-hyperglycemic activity of the extracts and phytochemicals of P. indicus and P. marsupium is particularly remarkable, allowing them to be further studied under clinical trial.

CONCLUSION

The present review has provided an insight into the traditional applications of the plants and some of them have been validated by scientific evidence, particularly their applications as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. In addition, the genus has demonstrated notable anti-diabetic activity in various clinical trials.