Evaluation of the neuro-protective effect of Artemisia judaica extract in a murine diabetic model

Artemisinin ameliorates cognitive decline by inhibiting hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis via Nrf2 activation in T2DM mice

BACKGROUND

Neuronal ferroptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits. The present study explored whether artemisinin protected type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice from cognitive impairments by attenuating neuronal ferroptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region.

METHODS

STZ-induced T2DM mice were treated with artemisinin (40 mg/kg, i.p.), or cotreated with artemisinin and Nrf2 inhibitor MEL385 or ferroptosis inducer erastin for 4 weeks. Cognitive performance was determined by the Morris water maze and Y maze tests. Hippocampal ROS, MDA, GSH, and Fe2+ contents were detected by assay kits. Nrf2, p-Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4 proteins in hippocampal CA1 were assessed by Western blotting. Hippocampal neuron injury and mitochondrial morphology were observed using H&E staining and a transmission electron microscope, respectively.

RESULTS

Artemisinin reversed diabetic cognitive impairments, decreased the concentrations of ROS, MDA and Fe2+, and increased the levels of p-Nr2, HO-1, GPX4 and GSH. Moreover, artemisinin alleviated neuronal loss and ferroptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region. However, these neuroprotective effects of artemisinin were abolished by Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 and ferroptosis inducer erastin.

CONCLUSION

Artemisinin effectively ameliorates neuropathological changes and learning and memory decline in T2DM mice; the underlying mechanism involves the activation of Nrf2 to inhibit neuronal ferroptosis in the hippocampus.

Neuroprotective and anti-epileptic potentials of genus Artemisia L

The Genus Artemisia L. is one of the largest genera in the Asteraceae family growing wild over in Europe, North America, and Central Asia and has been widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Phytochemical and psychopharmacological studies indicated that the genus Artemisia extracts contain various antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antitumor activity. Recently, increasing experimental studies demonstrated that many Artemisia extracts offer a great antiepileptic potential, which was attributed to their bioactive components via various mechanisms of action. However, detailed literature on the antiepileptic properties of the genus Artemisia and its mechanism of action is segregated. In this review, we tried to gather the detailed neuroprotective and antiepileptic properties of the genus Artemisia and its possible underlying mechanisms. In this respect, 63 articles were identified in the PubMed and Google scholars databases, from which 18 studies were examined based on the pharmacological use of the genus Artemisia species in epilepsy. The genus Artemisia extracts have been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neurotransmitter-modulating, anti-apoptotic, anticonvulsant, and pro-cognitive properties by modulating oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial ROS production and an imbalance of antioxidant enzymes, by protecting mitochondrial membrane potential required for ATP production, by upregulating GABA-A receptor and nACh receptor activities, and by interfering with various anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, such as mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, ERK/CREB/Bcl-2 pathway and Nrf2 pathway. This review provides detailed information about some species of the genus Artemisia as potential antiepileptic agents. Hence, we recommend further investigations on the purification and identification of the most biological effective compounds of Artemisia and the mechanisms of their action to cure epilepsy and other neurological diseases.

Effects of Artemisia macrocephala Jacquem on Memory Deficits and Brain Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Different species of Artemisia have been reported to have therapeutic potential in treating various health disorders, including diabetes and memory dysfunction. The present study was planned to evaluate the effects of Artemisia macrocephala Jacquem crude extract and its subfractions as antiamnesic agents in streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic mice. The in vivo behavioral studies were performed using the Y Maze test and novel object recognition test (NORT) test at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg of crude extract and 75 and 150 mg/kg of fractions. The in vitro and ex vivo anticholinesterase activities, along with biochemical parameters (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and lipid peroxidation) in the brain, were evaluated. Blood glucose levels were monitored with a glucometer; crude extract and fractions reduced the glucose level considerably, with some differences in the extent of their efficacies. The crude extract and fractions demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against cholinesterases (AChE and BuChE) in vitro. Crude, chloroform and ethyl acetate extract were found to be more potent than the other fractions, with IC50 of Crd-Am = 116.36 ± 1.48 and 240.52 ± 1.35 µg/mL, Chl-Am = 52.68 ± 1.09 and 57.45 ± 1.39 µg/mL and Et-Am = 75.19 ± 1.02 and 116.58 ± 1.09 µg/mL, respectively. Oxidative stress biomarkers like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione levels were elevated, whereas MDA levels were reduced by crude extract and all fractions with little difference in their respective values. The Y-maze test and novel object recognition test demonstrated declines in memory impairment in groups (n = 6) treated with crude extract and fractions as compared to STZ diabetic (amnesic) group. The most active fraction, Chl-Am, was also subjected to isolation of bioactive compounds; three compounds were obtained in pure state and designated as AB-I, AB-II and AB-III. Overall, the results of the study showed that Artemisia macrocephala Jacquem enhanced the memory impairment associated with diabetes, elevated acetylcholine levels and ameliorated oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to explore the beneficial role of the secondary metabolites isolated in the present study as memory enhancers. Toxicological aspects of the extracts are also important and need to be evaluated in other animal models.

Efficacy of artemisinin and its derivatives in animal models of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although current evidence suggests that artemisinin and its derivatives play a multitarget therapeutic role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), their efficacy and safety remain under debate. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of artemisinin and its derivatives in T2DM animal models. Preclinical studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, OpenGrey, Google Scholar, Psyclnfo, British Library Ethos, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, China National Knowledge Internet, VIP Information Chinese Periodical Service Platform, Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform. Twenty-two studies involving 526 animals were included in the meta-analysis. The RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.0, were used to perform the statistical analyses. The overall results showed that artemisinin or its derivatives could significantly reduce fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) in the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), 2hPG in the intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT), glycated hemoglobin A1c, under the curve in the IPGTT/IPITT, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acid, and urine volume. Although increase in body weight was observed due to administration of the compounds, no significant effect was observed regarding serum insulin. In terms of adverse reactions, only two of the included studies reported that high-dose artemether may cause digestive inhibition in mice. Our results suggest that artemisinins could improve several parameters related to glycolipid metabolism in T2DM animal models. However, to evaluate the antidiabetic effects and safety of artemisinins in a more accurate manner, additional preclinical studies are necessary.

The Potential Roles of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease that has become a global public health problem. Studies on T2DM prevention and treatment mostly focus on discovering therapeutic drugs. Artemisinin and its derivatives were originally used as antimalarial treatments. In recent years, the roles of artemisinins in T2DM have attracted much attention. Artemisinin treatments not only attenuate insulin resistance and restore islet ß-cell function in T2DM but also have potential therapeutic effects on diabetic complications, including diabetic kidney disease, cognitive impairment, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic cardiovascular disease. Many in vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed the therapeutic utility of artemisinin and its derivatives on T2DM, but no article has systematically demonstrated the specific role artemisinin plays in the treatment of T2DM. This review summarizes the potential therapeutic effects and mechanism of artemisinin and its derivatives in T2DM and associated complications, providing a reference for subsequent related research.

Modulation of reproductive dysfunctions associated with streptozocin-induced diabetes by Artemisia judaica extract in rats fed a high-fat diet

We investigated the palliative effect of Artemisia judaica extract (AjE) on testicular deterioration induced by DM in high-fat diet/streptozocin (HFD/STZ)-injected rats. Forty rats were allocated to the following five groups: control, AjE, HFD/STZ, HFD/STZ-AjE, and HFD/STZ-metformin. HFD/STZ-diabetic rats showed a marked decrease in testicular weight and male sex hormones. There was significant suppression of testicular antioxidant enzymes and glutathione content in HFD/STZ-diabetic rats. However, rats that had received the STZ injection and the high-fat diet displayed increased malondialdehyde content and nitric oxide levels as well as tumour necrosis factor-alpha. High levels of Bax and low levels of Bcl-2 were detected after the STZ injection. Obvious pathological alterations were found in the testicular tissue of the HFD/STZ-diabetic rats. Thus, the administration of AjE attenuated the biochemical, molecular, and histopathological changes in the testes of the diabetic rats. The obtained findings showed that AjE treatment attenuated the diabetes-induced reprotoxicity in male rats via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.