The nutraceutical potential of Lepidium sativum L. seed flavonoid-rich extract in managing metabolic syndrome components

Evidence for Health-Promoting Properties of Lepidium sativum L.: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Lepidium sativum L. is a common herb distributed worldwide, used as a food ingredient and therapeutic agent in traditional medicine for treating health-related disorders. L. sativum and its extracts have been described to possess numerous biological activities including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, anticancer, and numerous health-promoting effects in in vivo and in vitro studies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the findings describing important biological functions and therapeutic effects of L. sativum in various cell lines and animal models. In this review, the English-language articles were gathered from electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar with no time limit applied to any database. The search terms used in this review include, "Lepidium sativum L." and/or "chemical composition", "health benefits", "antimicrobial", "antioxidant", "anticancer", "diuretic", "nephro-protection", "antidiarrheal", "antidiabetic", "anti-asthmatic", "neuroprotection", "metabolic", "bone fracture", and "reproductive performance". Additional and eligible studies were collected from reference lists of appropriate articles. The information presented will be helpful to attract more interest toward medicinal plants by defining and developing novel clinical applications and new drug formulations in the future. Pre-clinical studies showed that L. sativum possesses potent health-promoting effects involving various molecular mechanisms. Taken all together, data suggested that identified herbal plants such as L. sativum, can be exploited as nutritional and therapeutic agents to combat various ailments. Despite much research in this field, further comprehensive in vitro/in vivo studies and clinical trials are needed to identify the mechanisms underlying the biological and therapeutic activities of L. sativum.

Effect of C. cyminum and L. sativum on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Antidiabetic Drug Gliclazide

BACKGROUND

Numerous herbs are reported to have anti-hyperglycemic activity and are frequently used in combination with prescription drugs to lower the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, without proper knowledge about the possibility of herb-drug interaction.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of cumin and garden cress on pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of gliclazide (GLZ) in nicotinamide-streptozotocin diabetic model.

METHODS

Diabetic animals of groups II-IV were treated with GLZ, cumin, 'cumin + GLZ', garden cress and 'garden cress + GLZ'. Herb's treatments were given for two weeks, and GLZ was administered in a single dose. Blood glucose levels (BGLs) were measured at pre-determined time points. Plasma samples of pharmacokinetic study were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. GLZ fragment at m/z 324.1>127 was monitored.

RESULTS

Cumin and garden cress have shown 15.3% and 15.9% reduction in mean BGL (1-24h) (p-value < 0.001), respectively. GLZ reduced mean BGL by 30.0%, which was significantly better than cumin and garden cress (pvalue <0.05). Concurrently administered "garden cress + GLZ" demonstrated the highest reduction in mean BGL (by 40.46%) and showed a prolonged effect. There was no significant advantage of simultaneously administered 'cumin + GLZ'. Cumin did not affect PK of GLZ. Garden cress has significantly enhanced AUC_0-t (by 69.8%, pvalue 0.0013), but other PK parameters C_max, T_max, and Kel were close to the control group.

CONCLUSION

PK/PD-based herb-drug interaction was observed. Concurrently administered garden cress + GLZ showed improved antidiabetic effect and has enhanced GLZ bioavailability.

Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Lepidium sativum

Background

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) is a member of the Brassicaceae family that has been utilized for medicinal and culinary purposes in centuries. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antiasthmatic, and hypoglycemic properties are found in various portions of the plant. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of L. sativum were the subject of this review.

Methods

The required information was gathered by searching the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases for the terms anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, immune system, and Lepidium sativum. Up until February 2022, the search was conducted.

Results

TNF-, IL-6, IL-1, NO, iNOS, and HO-1 levels were reduced, indicating that L. sativum has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Flavonoids, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, tannins, glucosinolates, sterols, and triterpenes are the key chemical components that contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects. In peritoneal neutrophils, L. sativum reduced oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals, as evidenced by a drop in superoxide anion and an increase in glutathione.

Conclusion

The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities of L. sativum could be explored in clinical trials to treat inflammatory and immune system illnesses.

Evaluation of the Effect of Hydromethanolic Seed Extract of Lepidium sativum L. (Fetto) on Deep-fried Palm Oil Diet Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease on Male Swiss Albino Mice

Introduction

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent disease due to a dramatic change in dietary habits, especially an increase in consumption of fat and carbohydrates in deep-fried foods.

Objective

The objective was to evaluate the effect of hydromethanolic seed extract of Lepidium sativum on deep-fried palm oil diet induced NAFLDon male mice.

Methods

An experimental study design was conducted. Twenty-four male mice aged 8 to 10 weeks, weighing 32–42 g were divided into four groups. The four groups were divided into two controls and two treatments. Mice in normal control (C₀) were administered only with the basal diet whereas negative control (C₁) provided only with the deep-fried palm oil diet. The treatment groups T_1, and T₂ were administered with deep-fried palm oil diet and HMSELS at dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, respectively for 28 days. Then on day 29, the mice were fasted overnight, anaesthetized and sacrificed by cervical dislocation after blood was taken by cardiac puncture for liver function tests while liver tissues were taken for histopathology investigation.

Results

The serum ALT and total bilirubin showed significant decrement whereas the serum albumin levels showed significant increment in T₂ group. However, serum AST and ALP levels were decreased significantly in both T₁ and T₂ groups. Besides, the T₂ group liver sections of mice were showed better effect of HMSELS on restoring the damaged liver histopathology almost toward normal.

Conclusion

The HMSELS at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day (T₂) was more effective on the liver function tests and liver histopathology that altered by feeding deep-fried palm oil diet. The good protective effect of HMSELS against deep-fried palm oil diet-induced NAFLD might be due to its antioxidant content.

Molecular Structure-Based Screening of the Constituents of Calotropis procera Identifies Potential Inhibitors of Diabetes Mellitus Target Alpha Glucosidase

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by higher levels of blood glucose due to impaired insulin mechanisms. Alpha glucosidase is a critical drug target implicated in the mechanisms of diabetes mellitus and its inhibition controls hyperglycemia. Since the existing standard synthetic drugs have therapeutic limitations, it is imperative to identify new potent inhibitors of natural product origin which may slow carbohydrate digestion and absorption via alpha glucosidase. Since plant extracts from Calotropis procera have been extensively used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, the present study used molecular docking and dynamics simulation techniques to screen its constituents against the receptor alpha glucosidase. Taraxasterol, syriogenin, isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside and calotoxin were identified as potential novel lead compounds with plausible binding energies of −40.2, −35.1, −34.3 and −34.3 kJ/mol against alpha glucosidase, respectively. The residues Trp⁴⁸¹, Asp⁵¹⁸, Leu⁶⁷⁷, Leu⁶⁷⁸ and Leu⁶⁸⁰ were identified as critical for binding and the compounds were predicted as alpha glucosidase inhibitors. Structurally similar compounds with Tanimoto coefficients greater than 0.7 were reported experimentally to be inhibitors of alpha glucosidase or antidiabetic. The structures of the molecules may serve as templates for the design of novel inhibitors and warrant in vitro assaying to corroborate their antidiabetic potential.

Diagnostic Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome in Diet-Induced Rodent Models: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Thousands of publications in recent years have addressed the induction of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in rodents. However, the criteria and the reference values for diagnosing this disease have not been defined.

OBJECTIVE

Our main objective was to carry out a systematic review to gather evidence about the criteria for biochemical and anthropometric parameters in which scientific studies have relied on to report that rats developed MetS from a previous dietary manipulation.

METHODS

We compiled characteristics and findings of diet-induced MetS with high-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-fat/high-carbohydrates, and cafeteria diet from PubMed and Science Direct databases published in the last 5 years.

RESULTS

The results on the principal determinants for the syndrome, published in the reviewed articles, were chosen to propose reference values in the rat models of food induction.

CONCLUSION

The values obtained will serve as reference cut-of points in the development of the disease; in addition, the compilation of data will be useful in planning and executing research protocols in animal models.

Effect of Aglycon and Glycoside Flavonoid-Enriched Extracts Obtained from Buxus sempervirens L. on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

Buxus sempervirens L. is a medicinal plant with several beneficial effects on health and is widely used in Moroccan folklore as an antidiabetic plant.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of both aglycone and glycoside flavonoid enriched extracts of this plant in the experimental diabetic state.

METHODS

In the current work, the effect of aglycone and glycoside flavonoid-enriched extracts from the leaves of Buxus sempervirens L. (AFBS and GFBS) (10 mg/kg) on blood glucose levels has been evaluated in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Moreover, the histopathological changes in the liver and pancreas have been assessed in STZ diabetic rats. The ability of AFBS and GFBS to improve glucose tolerance in normal rats was also evaluated.

RESULTS

In normal rats, both a single and repeated administration of AFBS and GFBS (10 mg/kg) showed no significant effects on blood glucose levels. However, both single and repeated oral administration of the two fractions showed a significant blood glucose lowering effect (p<0.0001) in STZ rats. In addition, histopathological analysis has demonstrated the beneficial impact of AFBS and GFBS on the pancreas and liver. Whereas, the oral glucose tolerance test demonstrated no significant ability of these extracts to improve the increase in blood glucose levels in normal and diabetic treated rats. In the current study, no significant changes in body weight in normal and STZ rats have been shown. In addition, the antioxidant activity of both AFBS and GFBS revealed the antioxidant effect of both extracts. Furthermore, both flavonoid-enriched fractions had no significant effect on blood lipid levels.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, AFBS and GFBS exhibited an interesting antidiabetic effect on streptozotocin rats and GFBS which seems to be more effective than AFBS.