Oleanolic acid derivative DKS26 exerts antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects in diabetic mice and promotes glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion and expression in intestinal cells

Principal Bioactive Properties of Oleanolic Acid, Its Derivatives, and Analogues

Natural products have always played an important role in pharmacotherapy, helping to control pathophysiological processes associated with human disease. Thus, natural products such as oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpene that has demonstrated important activities in several disease models, are in high demand. The relevant properties of this compound have motivated re-searchers to search for new analogues and derivatives using the OA as a scaffold to which new functional groups have been added or modifications have been realized. OA and its derivatives have been shown to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory processes, triggered by chronic diseases or bacterial and viral infections. OA and its derivatives have also been found to be effective in diabetic disorders, a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by hyperglycemia that can affect several organs, including the liver and brain. This group of compounds has been reported to exhibit significant bioactivity against cancer processes in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we summarize the bioactive properties of OA and its derivatives as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and anticancer agents.

Novel Oleanolic Acid-Phtalimidines Tethered 1,2,3 Triazole Hybrids as Promising Antibacterial Agents: Design, Synthesis, In Vitro Experiments and In Silico Docking Studies

As part of the valorization of agricultural waste into bioactive compounds, a series of structurally novel oleanolic acid ((3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, OA-1)-phtalimidines (isoindolinones) conjugates 18a-u bearing 1,2,3-triazole moieties were designed and synthesized by treating an azide 4 previously prepared from OA-1 isolated from olive pomace (Olea europaea L.) with a wide range of propargylated phtalimidines using the Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry approach. OA-1 and its newly prepared analogues, 18a-u, were screened in vitro for their antibacterial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, and two Gram-negative bacteria, Salmonella thyphimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Attractive results were obtained, notably against L. monocytogenes. Compounds 18d, 18g, and 18h exhibited the highest antibacterial activity when compared with OA-1 and other compounds in the series against tested pathogenic bacterial strains. A molecular docking study was performed to explore the binding mode of the most active derivatives into the active site of the ABC substrate-binding protein Lmo0181 from L. monocytogenes. Results showed the importance of both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with the target protein and are in favor of the experimental data.

Recent advances in medicinal chemistry of oleanolic acid derivatives

Oleanolic acid (OA), a ubiquitous pentacyclic oleanane-type triterpene isolated from edible and medicinal plants, exhibits a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities and tremendous therapeutic potential. However, the undesirable pharmacokinetic properties limit its application and development. Numerous researches on structural modifications of OA have been carried out to overcome this limitation and improve its pharmacokinetic and therapeutic properties. This review aims to compile and summarize the recent progresses in the medicinal chemistry of OA derivatives, especially on structure-activity relationship in the last few years (2010-2021). It gives insights into the rational design of bioactive derivatives from OA scaffold as promising therapeutic agents.

Revisiting the concept of incretin and enteroendocrine L-cells as type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment

The significant growth in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence strikes a common threat to the healthcare and economic systems globally. Despite the availability of several anti-hyperglycaemic agents in the market, none can offer T2DM remission. These agents include the prominent incretin-based therapy such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors that are designed primarily to promote GLP-1R activation. Recent interest in various therapeutically useful gastrointestinal hormones in T2DM and obesity has surged with the realisation that enteroendocrine L-cells modulate the different incretins secretion and glucose homeostasis, reflecting the original incretin definition. Targeting L-cells offers promising opportunities to mimic the benefits of bariatric surgery on glucose homeostasis, bodyweight management, and T2DM remission. Revising the fundamental incretin theory is an essential step for therapeutic development in this area. Therefore, the present review explores enteroendocrine L-cell hormone expression, the associated nutrient-sensing mechanisms, and other physiological characteristics. Subsequently, enteroendocrine L-cell line models and the latest L-cell targeted therapies are reviewed critically in this paper. Bariatric surgery, pharmacotherapy and new paradigm of L-cell targeted pharmaceutical formulation are discussed here, offering both clinician and scientist communities a new common interest to push the scientific boundary in T2DM therapy.

Long-term drench of exopolysaccharide from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides XG5 protects against type 1 diabetes of NOD mice via stimulating GLP-1 secretion

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that results in the specific destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of exopolysaccharide from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides XG5 (XG5 EPS) against type 1 diabetes.

RESULTS

Long-term drench of XG5 EPS delayed the onset of autoimmune diabetes and had fewer islets with high-grade infiltration (an insulitis score of 3 or 4) than untreated NOD mice. Oral administration of 50 mg kg^-1  d^-1 XG5 EPS increased the insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels of serum, stimulated GLP-1 secretion and upregulated gcg mRNA expression of colon in NOD mice. Moreover, oral administration of 50 mg kg^-1  d^-1 XG5 EPS significantly increased total short-chain fatty acids levels in the colon contents, especially those of acetic acid and butyric acid. In NCI-H716 cells, 500 and 1000 μmol L^-1 sodium butyrate promoted the secretion of GLP-1 and upregulated the mRNA expression of gcg and PC3, while XG5 EPS and sodium acetate did not stimulate the GLP-1 secretion. Therefore, long-term drench of XG5 EPS delayed the onset of autoimmune diabetes, which may be directly correlated with the increase of butyrate in the colon of NOD mice.

CONCLUSION

Long-term drench of 50 mg kg^-1  d^-1 XG5 EPS promoted the expression and secretion of GLP-1 by increasing the production of butyric acid, thereby delaying T1D onset in NOD mice. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary Bioactive Ingredients Modulating the cAMP Signaling in Diabetes Treatment

As the prevalence of diabetes increases progressively, research to develop new therapeutic approaches and the search for more bioactive compounds are attracting more attention. Over the past decades, studies have suggested that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), the important intracellular second messenger, is a key regulator of metabolism and glucose homeostasis in diverse physiopathological states in multiple organs including the pancreas, liver, gut, skeletal muscle, adipose tissues, brain, and kidney. The multiple characteristics of dietary compounds and their favorable influence on diabetes pathogenesis, as well as their intersections with the cAMP signaling pathway, indicate that these compounds have a beneficial effect on the regulation of glucose homeostasis. In this review, we outline the current understanding of the diverse functions of cAMP in different organs involved in glucose homeostasis and show that a diversity of bioactive ingredients from foods activate or inhibit cAMP signaling, resulting in the improvement of the diabetic pathophysiological process. It aims to highlight the diabetes-preventative or -therapeutic potential of dietary bioactive ingredients targeting cAMP signaling.

Development and Evaluation of Oleanolic Acid Dosage Forms and Its Derivatives

Oleanolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound that exists widely in medicinal herbs and other plants. Because of the extensive pharmacological activity, oleanolic acid has attracted more and more attention. However, the structural characteristics of oleanolic acid prevent it from being directly made into new drugs, which limits the application of oleanolic acid. Through the application of modern preparation techniques and methods, different oleanolic acid dosage forms and derivatives have been designed and synthesized. These techniques can improve the water solubility and bioavailability of oleanolic acid and lay a foundation for the new drug development. In this review, the recent progress in understanding the oleanolic acid dosage forms and its derivatives are discussed. Furthermore, these products were evaluated comprehensively from the perspective of characterization and pharmacokinetics, and this work may provide ideas and references for the development of oleanolic acid preparations.

Prophylactic and therapeutic roles of oleanolic acid and its derivatives in several diseases

Oleanolic acid (OA) and its derivatives are widely found in diverse plants and are naturally effective pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with broad prophylactic and therapeutic roles in various diseases such as ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders, diabetes, hepatitis and different cancers. This review assembles and presents the latest in vivo reports on the impacts of OA and OA derivatives from various plant sources and the biological mechanisms of OA activities. Thus, this review presents sufficient data proposing that OA and its derivatives are potential alternative and complementary therapies for the treatment and management of several diseases.

Myeloid-Derived Growth Factor Promotes Intestinal Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Production in Male Mice With Type 2 Diabetes

Myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF), which is produced by bone marrow-derived cells, mediates cardiac repair following myocardial infarction by inhibiting cardiac myocyte apoptosis to subsequently reduce the infarct size. However, the function of MYDGF in the incretin system of diabetes is still unknown. Here, loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments in mice revealed that MYDGF maintains glucose homeostasis by inducing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) production and secretion and that it improves glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism. Treatment with recombinant MYDGF increased the secretion and production of GLP-1 in STC-1 cells in vitro. Mechanistically, the positive effects of MYDGF are potentially attributable to the activation of protein kinase A/glycogen synthase kinase 3β/β-catenin (PKA/GSK-3β/β-catenin) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases/extracellular regulated protein kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways. Based on these findings, MYDGF promotes the secretion and production of GLP-1 in intestinal L-cells and potentially represents a potential therapeutic medication target for type 2 diabetes.

Scutellarin Exerts Hypoglycemic and Renal Protective Effects in db/db Mice via the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway

This study investigated the hypoglycemic and renal protective effects of scutellarin (SCU) in db/db mice and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. The oral administration of metformin hydrochloride (Met) at 120 mg/kg and SCU at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg over an eight-week period had hypoglycemic effects, demonstrated by decreases in body weight, blood glucose, food and water intake, and glycated hemoglobin activity and by augmented insulin levels and pyruvate kinase activity in the serum of db/db mice. SCU alleviated dyslipidemia by decreasing the levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol and enhancing the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum of db/db mice. SCU reversed the overexpression of mRNA of renal damage markers (receptor for advanced glycation end products, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and kidney injury molecule 1), macrophage marker CD11b, and T cell marker CD3 in kidney of db/db mice. Pathological examination confirmed that SCU improved the organ structures of hyperglycemia-damaged livers, kidneys, and pancreas islets. Antibody array assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were combined to screen and analyze the regulatory effects of SCU on inflammatory factors and oxidative enzymes. SCU exerted anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (glycogen synthase kinase, intercellular adhesion molecule 2, and interleukin 1β and 2) and promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 4). SCU decreased the reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde concentrations and increased the activity levels of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) in serum and kidneys. Furthermore, SCU upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which in turn improved heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase 1 and 2, and catalase expression levels in kidneys. The study showed that SCU has at least partial hypoglycemic and renal protective effects in db/db mice, and the mechanism is the modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Nano-oleanolic acid alleviates metabolic dysfunctions in rats with high fat and fructose diet

Obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders are among the top prevalent metabolism-related diseases with increasing threat to human health throughout the world. Oleanolic acid (OA) is a natural triterpenoid and an aglycone of many saponins possessing anti-diabetic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory activities. A nano-formulation of OA was recently developed to evaluate the efficiency of nano-OA in the treatment of insulin-resistance and metabolic disorders in high fat and fructose (HFF) diet-fed rats. This study further identified that nano-OA could reduce the increase of body weights, serum insulin, insulin sensitivity index, serum triglycerides, and cholesterol in HFF-fed rats. In consistence, nano-OA was able to attenuate HFF diet-induced lipid accumulation in the liver and improve the structural integrity of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in liver and pancreas in animals fed with HFF diet. In addition, nan-OA can efficaciously mitigate the increase of levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in blood samples. The beneficial effects of nano-OA was further evidenced to be superior to OA formulated in arabic gum and rosiglitazone treatment. Together, this study provides the evidence that nano-OA can effectively improve HFF diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions in rats by improving its bioavailability and pharmacodynamic properties and thus nano-OA may be a potentially efficient agent to treat obesity-related diabetes and metabolic disorders.

The Antidiabetic and Antinephritic Activities of Tuber melanosporum via Modulation of Nrf2-Mediated Oxidative Stress in the db/db Mouse

Tuber melanosporum (TM), a valuable edible fungus, contains 19 types of fatty acid, 17 types of amino acid, 6 vitamins, and 7 minerals. The antidiabetic and antinephritic effects of TM and the underlying mechanisms related to oxidative stress were investigated in db/db mice. Eight-week oral administration of metformin (Met) at 0.1 g/kg and TM at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg decreased body weight, plasma glucose, serum levels of glycated hemoglobin, triglyceride, and total cholesterol and increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the mice, suggesting hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. TM promoted glucose metabolism by increasing the levels of pyruvate kinase and hepatic glycogen. It also regulated the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative enzymes in serum and/or the kidneys of the mice. Additionally, TM increased the expression of nuclear respiratory factor 2 (Nrf2), catalase, heme oxygenase 1, heme oxygenase 2, and manganese superoxide dismutase 2 and decreased the expression of protein kinase C alpha, phosphor-janus kinase 2, phosphor-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and phosphor-nuclear factor-κB in the kidneys. The results of this study reveal the antidiabetic and antidiabetic nephritic properties of TM via modulating oxidative stress and inflammation-related cytokines through improving the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Oleanolic acid derivative DKS26 exerts antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects in diabetic mice and promotes glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion and expression in intestinal cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an important target for diabetes therapy based on its key role in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis. This study was designed to investigate antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of a novel oleanolic acid derivative DKS26 in diabetic mice and elucidate its underlying GLP-1 related antidiabetic mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The therapeutic effects of DKS26 were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced and db/db diabetic mouse models. Levels of plasma glucose, glycosylated serum protein (GSP), lipid profiles, insulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), oral glucose tolerance (OGT), pancreatic islets and hepatic histopathological morphology, liver lipid levels and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed. Intestinal NCI-H716 cells and diabetic models were used to further validate its potential GLP-1-related antidiabetic mechanisms.

KEY RESULTS

DKS26 treatment (100 mg·kg^-1 ·day^-1 ) decreased plasma levels of glucose, GSP, ALT and AST; ameliorated OGT and plasma lipid profiles; augmented plasma insulin levels; alleviated islets and hepatic pathological morphology; and reduced liver lipid accumulation, inflammation and necrosis in vivo. Furthermore, DKS26 enhanced GLP-1 release and expression, accompanied by elevated levels of cAMP and phosphorylated PKA in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

DKS26 exerted hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic and islets protective effects, which were associated with an enhanced release and expression of GLP-1 mediated by the activation of the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway, and alleviated hepatic damage by reducing liver lipid levels and inflammation. These findings firmly identified DKS26 as a new viable therapeutic option for diabetes control.