Antidiabetic activity of aqueous bark extract of Cassia glauca in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The stimulatory effect of HI 129, a novel indole derivative, on glucose-induced insulin secretion

Indole derivatives exhibit a broad spectrum of beneficial effects, encompassing anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimalarial, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-hepatitis, and antidepressant properties. Here, we describe the potentiation of insulin secretion in pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells through methyl 2-(2-ethoxy-1-hydroxy-2-oxoethyl)-1-(pyrimidine-2-yl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylate (HI 129), a novel indole derivative. Treatment with HI 129 led to notably decreased ADP/ATP ratios in pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells compared to those in the vehicle-treated controls, indicating a shift in cellular ATP production. Moreover, the augmentation of insulin secretion by HI 129 was closely correlated with its ability to enhance the mitochondrial membrane potential and respiration, partly by reducing the phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Mechanistically, HI 129 enhanced the association between AMPK and β-arrestin-1, critical molecules for glucose-induced insulin secretion. Furthermore, β-arrestin-1 depletion attenuated the effect of HI 129 on glucose-induced insulin secretion, suggesting that HI 129 potentiates insulin secretion via β-arrestin-1/AMPK signaling. These results collectively underscore the potential of HI 129 in enhancing insulin secretion as a novel candidate for improving glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes.

Protective role of Dodonaea viscosa extract against streptozotocin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats

Previous investigations have shown that D. viscosa herbal extract is often used to treat a variety of diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate any additional potential impacts on rat liver and kidney damage induced by diabetes. Streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg/day) was given as a single dosage to cause type 1 diabetes. After then, diabetic rats received oral doses of D. viscosa for four weeks at 150 and 300 mg/kg/day. Blood, liver, and kidney tissues were collected at the end of the treatment and examined. Analysis was made of the serum lipid profile, liver, and kidney functions, as well as blood biochemistry. Moreover, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2), and nitric oxide (NO) were estimated in serum. In liver and kidney samples, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reeducates (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed. Histological changes in liver and kidney cross-sections were also observed. Our findings demonstrated that D. viscosa dramatically decreased pro-inflammatory indicators in blood, kidney, and liver tissues as well as blood glucose, and restored insulin levels, and lipid profiles. Additionally, it significantly raises the antioxidant enzyme activity SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST, while significantly lowering TBARs levels. The above-mentioned biochemical changes that took place in tissues were further supported by histological alterations. These findings imply that D. viscosa protects against STZ-induced hyperglycemia, aberrant lipid synthesis, and oxidative stress and that these benefits may be mediated by interacting with various targets to increase the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidneys. Its mode of action and safety for use as medicine against various metabolic problems caused by diabetes require more research.

In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Anticholinesterase and Antidiabetic Effects of Furanolabdanes and Other Constituents from Graptophyllum pictum (Linn.) Griffith

Graptophyllum pictum is a tropical plant noticeable for its variegated leaves and exploited for various medicinal purposes. In this study, seven compounds, including three furanolabdane diterpenoids, i.e., Hypopurin E, Hypopurin A and Hypopurin B, as well as with Lupeol, β-sitosterol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, stigmasterol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, were isolated from G. pictum, and their structures were deduced from ESI-TOF-MS, HR-ESI-TOF-MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The compounds were evaluated for their anticholinesterase activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BchE), as well as their antidiabetic potential through inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. For AChE inhibition, no sample had IC50 within tested concentrations, though the most potent was Hypopurin A, which had a percentage inhibition of 40.18 ± 0.75%, compared to 85.91 ± 0.58% for galantamine, at 100 µg/mL. BChE was more susceptible to the leaves extract (IC₅₀ = 58.21 ± 0.65 µg/mL), stem extract (IC₅₀ = 67.05 ± 0.82 µg/mL), Hypopurin A (IC₅₀ = 58.00 ± 0.90 µg/mL), Hypopurin B (IC₅₀ = 67.05 ± 0.92 µg/mL) and Hypopurin E (IC₅₀ = 86.90 ± 0.76 µg/mL). In the antidiabetic assay, the furanolabdane diterpenoids, lupeol and the extracts had moderate to good activities. Against α-glucosidase, lupeol, Hypopurin E, Hypopurin A and Hypopurin B had appreciable activities but the leaves (IC₅₀ = 48.90 ± 0.17 µg/mL) and stem (IC₅₀ = 45.61 ± 0.56 µg/mL) extracts were more active than the pure compounds. In the α-amylase assay, stem extract (IC₅₀ = 64.47 ± 0.78 µg/mL), Hypopurin A (IC₅₀ = 60.68 ± 0.55 µg/mL) and Hypopurin B (IC₅₀ = 69.51 ± 1.30 µg/mL) had moderate activities compared to the standard acarbose (IC₅₀ = 32.25 ± 0.36 µg/mL). Molecular docking was performed to determine the binding modes and free binding energies of Hypopurin E, Hypopurin A and Hypopurin B in relation to the enzymes and decipher the structure-activity relationship. The results indicated that G. pictum and its compounds could, in general, be used in the development of therapies for Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

Chemical Constituents from the Roots of Angelica reflexa That Improve Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion by Regulating Pancreatic β-Cell Metabolism

The aim of this study was to discover bioactive constituents of Angelica reflexa that improve glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic β-cells. Herein, three new compounds, namely, koseonolin A (1), koseonolin B (2), and isohydroxylomatin (3), along with 28 compounds (4-31) were isolated from the roots of A. reflexa by chromatographic methods. The chemical structures of new compounds (1-3) were elucidated through spectroscopic/spectrometric methods such as NMR and HRESIMS. In particular, the absolute configuration of the new compounds (1 and 3) was performed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) studies. The effects of the root extract of A. reflexa (KH2E) and isolated compounds (1-31) on GSIS were detected by GSIS assay, ADP/ATP ratio assay, and Western blot assay. We observed that KH2E enhanced GSIS. Among the compounds 1-31, isohydroxylomatin (3), (-)-marmesin (17), and marmesinin (19) increased GSIS. In particular, marmesinin (19) was the most effective; this effect was superior to treatment with gliclazide. GSI values were: 13.21 ± 0.12 and 7.02 ± 0.32 for marmesinin (19) and gliclazide at a same concentration of 10 μM, respectively. Gliclazide is often performed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). KH2E and marmesinin (19) enhanced the protein expressions associated with pancreatic β-cell metabolism such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1, and insulin receptor substrate-2. The effect of marmesinin (19) on GSIS was improved by an L-type Ca²⁺ channel agonist and K+ channel blocker and was inhibited by an L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker and K⁺ channel activator. Marmesinin (19) may improve hyperglycemia by enhancing GSIS in pancreatic β-cells. Thus, marmesinin (19) may have potential use in developing novel anti-T2D therapy. These findings promote the potential application of marmesinin (19) toward the management of hyperglycemia in T2D.

The Glycemic Control Potential of Some Amaranthaceae Plants, with Particular Reference to In Vivo Antidiabetic Potential of Agathophora alopecuroides

Natural products continue to provide inspiring moieties for the treatment of various diseases. In this regard, investigation of wild plants, which have not been previously explored, is a promising strategy for reaching medicinally useful drugs. The present study aims to investigate the antidiabetic potential of nine Amaranthaceae plants: Agathophora alopecuroides, Anabasis lachnantha, Atriplex leucoclada, Cornulaca aucheri, Halothamnus bottae, Halothamnus iraqensis, Salicornia persia, Salsola arabica, and Salsola villosa, growing in the Qassim area, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The antidiabetic activity of the hydroalcoholic extracts was assessed using in vitro testing of α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects. Among the nine tested extracts, A. alopecuroides extract (AAE) displayed potent inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase enzyme with IC₅₀ 117.9 µg/mL noting better activity than Acarbose (IC₅₀ 191.4 µg/mL). Furthermore, AAE displayed the highest α- amylase inhibitory activity among the nine tested extracts, with IC₅₀ 90.9 µg/mL. Based upon in vitro testing results, the antidiabetic activity of the two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) of AAE was studied in normoglycemic and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The effects of the extract on body weight, food and water intakes, random blood glucose level (RBGL), fasting blood glucose level (FBGL), insulin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were investigated. Results indicated that oral administration of the two doses of AAE showed a significant dose-dependent increase (p < 0.05) in the body weight and serum insulin level, as well as a significant decrease in food and water intake, RBGL, FBGL, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, in STZ-induced diabetic mice, compared with the diabetic control group. Meanwhile, no significant differences of both extract doses were observed in normoglycemic mice when compared with normal control animals. This study revealed a promising antidiabetic activity of the wild plant A. alopecuroides.

Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Cassia glauca in diabetes mellitus through network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics

Cassia glauca is reported as anti-diabetic medicinal plant and is also used as an ethnomedicine. However, its mode of action as an anti-diabetic agent has not been clearly elucidated. Hence, the present study investigated the probable mechanism of action of C. glauca to manage diabetes mellitus via network pharmacology and molecular docking and simulations studies. The reported bioactives from C. glauca were retrieved from an open-source database, i.e. ChEBI, and their targets were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction. The proteins involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes were identified from the therapeutic target database. The targets involved in diabetes were enriched in STRING, and the pathways involved in diabetes were identified concerning the KEGG. Cytoscape was used to construct the network among bioactives, proteins, and probably regulated pathways, which were analyzed based on edge count. Similarly, molecular docking was performed using the Glide module of the Schrodinger suite against majorly targeted proteins with their respective ligands. Additionally, the drug-likeness score and ADMET profile of the individual bioactives were predicted using MolSoft and admetSAR2.0 respectively. The stability of these complexes were further studied via molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations. Twenty-three bio-actives were retrieved from the ChEBI database in which cassiarin B was predicted to modulate the highest number of proteins involved in diabetes mellitus. Similarly, GO analysis identified the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to be primarily regulated by modulating the highest number of gene. Likewise, aldose reductase (AKR1B1) was majorly targeted via the bioactives of C. glauca. Similarly, docking study revealed methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinate (docking score -9.209) to possess the highest binding affinity with AKR1B1. Additionally, drug-likeness prediction identified cassiaoccidentalin B to possess the highest drug-likeness score, i.e. 0.84. The molecular dynamics simulations and the MMGBSA indicate high stability and greater binding energy for the methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinate (ΔG bind = -40.33 ± 6.69 kcal mol-1) with AKR1B1, thus complementing results from other experiments. The study identified cassiarin B, cassiaoccidentalin B, and cinnamtannin A2 as lead hits for the anti-diabetic activity of C. glauca. Further, the PI3K-Akt and AKR1B1 were traced as majorly modulated pathway and target, respectively.

Ameliorative effects of tropisetron on liver injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tropisetron on liver injury induced by diabetes. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were assigned to five groups (n = 7): control (C), tropisetron (T), diabetic (D), diabetic + tropisetron (D + T) and diabetic + glibenclamide (D + G). Diabetic rats were treated with tropisetron (3 mg/kg body weight/day) or glibenclamide (1 mg/kg/day) for two weeks. Liver from diabetic rats exhibited a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and atherogenic index, and a significant decrease in liver glycogen, serum albumin and high-density lipoprotein. Treatment with tropisetron significantly abrogated diabetes-induced perturbation in these parameters. These effects were equipotent with glibenclamide, suggesting that tropisetron treatment is associated with a hepatoprotective effect against diabetic injury. Therefore, the results of this study manifested the significance of using tropisetron as a promising remedial agent to improve diabetic complications.

The genus Cassia L.: Ethnopharmacological and phytochemical overview

Nature gifts medicinal plants with the untapped and boundless treasure of active chemical constituents with significant therapeutic potential that makes these plants a beneficial source in the development of phytomedicines. Genus Cassia, with approximately 500 species, is a large group of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. Cassia species are widely distributed throughout different regions mainly tropical Asia, North America, and East Africa. In the folk medicinal history, these plants are used as laxative and purgative agents. In the Ayurveda system of medicine, they are used to cure headache and fever. Cassia plants exhibit pharmacological activities at large scales such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hyperglycemic, antimutagenic, and antivirals. The phytochemical investigations of genus Cassia demonstrate the presence of more than 200 chemical compounds, including piperidine alkaloids, anthracene derivatives (anthraquinones), flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, sterols, phenylpropanoids, and γ-naphthopyrones. The literature illustrated anthraquinones and flavonoids as major secondary metabolites from this genus. However, some Cassia plants, with rich contents of anthraquinones, still show toxicology properties. As Cassia plants are used extensively in the herbal system of medicine, but only senna dosage forms have achieved the status of the pharmaceutical market as standard laxative agents. In conclusion, further investigations on isolating newer biologically active constituents, unknown underlying mechanisms, toxicology profiles, and clinical studies of Cassia species are needed to be explored. This review article specifies the systematic breach existing between the current scientific knowledge and the fundamentals for the marketization of genus Cassia products.

Evaluation and docking of indole sulfonamide as a potent inhibitor of α-glucosidase enzyme in streptozotocin -induced diabetic albino wistar rats

We have synthesized new hybrid class of indole bearing sulfonamide scaffolds (1-17) as α-glucosidase inhibitors. All scaffolds were found to be active except scaffold 17 and exhibited IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.60 to 51.20 µM in comparison with standard acarbose (IC₅₀ = 42.45 µM). Among the synthesized hybrid class scaffolds 16 was the most potent analogue with IC₅₀ value 1.60 μM, showing many folds better potency as compared to standard acarbose. Whereas, synthesized scaffolds 1-15 showed good α-glucosidase inhibitory potential. Based on α-glucosidase inhibitory effect, Scaffold 16 was chosen due to highest activity in vitro for further evaluation of antidiabetic activity in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The Scaffold 16 exhibited significant antidiabetic activity. All analogues were characterized through ¹H, ¹³CNMR and HR MS. Structure-activity relationship of synthesized analogues was established and confirmed through molecular docking study.

Gene set enrichment analysis of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors of Cassia glauca

Background

The present study aimed to evaluate in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of various extracts of Cassia glauca, predict the binding affinity of multiple phytoconstituents with both enzymes via in silico molecular docking and identify the probably modulated pathways by the lead hit.

Methods

Different extracts of Cassia glauca i.e. acetone, ethanol, and aqueous extracts were evaluated for α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity using in vitro method in which starch and 4-Nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside were used as substrate respectively. Similarly, the docking study was performed using autodock4 to predict the binding affinity of phytoconstituents with α-amylase and α-glucosidase. After docking, ten different poses were obtained for the ligand molecule. Among them, the pose of ligand molecule with the lowest binding energy was visualized in Discovery Studio 2019.

Results and conclusion

Among the multiple extracts, the aqueous extract showed the highest α-amylase (IC₅₀:652.10 ± 20.09) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀:482.46 ± 8.70) inhibitory activity. Similarly, cassiaoccidentalin B was predicted to have the highest binding affinity with both enzymes. The potency of aqueous extract to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase could be due to multiple water-soluble compounds like saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides.

Expression of asprosin in rat hepatic, renal, heart, gastric, testicular and brain tissues and its changes in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus model

In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of asprosin (ASP) in the liver, kidneys, heart, stomach, testicles and brain and to determine the serum and tissue asprosin levels in diabetic rats. A total of 14 male Wistar Albino rats were divided into two groups, each containing 7 rats: (I) control group and (II) experimental diabetes group. Control rats received no treatment and the rats in the experiment group received single-dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg) dissolved in 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer (pH: 4.5) intraperitoneally. Serum levels of asprosin were measured using ELISA method. The presence of asprosin in hepatic, renal, cardiac, gastric, testicular and brain tissues was investigated using immunohistochemical staining. Asprosin was detected in hepatocytes in the liver, cortical distal tubule cells in the kidney, cardiomyocytes in heart, surface epithelial cells of stomach fundus, interstitial Leydig cells in testes and cortical neurons of the brain. Compared to control group, it was found that diabetic rats had decreased asprosin levels in liver, kidney and heart tissues, increased levels in gastric and testicular tissues and no significant changes in brain tissue. Serum asprosin levels of diabetic rats were found to be decreased compared to the control group. This is the first study in the literature that reports the presence of asprosin in liver, kidney, heart, stomach, testis and brain tissues in rats. The aim of the study is to determine the presence of ASP, a newly discovered adipokine, in various tissues and to examine tissue and serum level changes in STZ-induced diabetes.

Salmonella infection leads to severe intestinal inflammation and increased CD4+FoxP3+ Treg cells in streptozotocin‑induced hyperglycemic mice

Hyperglycemia promotes the growth and reproduction of bacteria, thereby increasing the probability of infection, which also causes rebound hyperglycemia. Therefore, the interactions of infection and hyperglycemia lead to the progression and deterioration of these diseases. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease. Studies have shown that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in maintaining islet-specific tolerance. Treg deficiency may lead to the development of early pancreatitis and T1DM, and sufficient amounts of Tregs can restore this tolerance, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of T1DM. Moreover, different subpopulations of dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in activating autoreactive T cells and inducing autoimmune tolerance to autoantigens, which are closely related to the functional diversity caused by different phenotypes, maturation status, and the immune microenvironment of DC subpopulations. In the present study, we used streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic mice to model T1DM and induced a Salmonella infection in the mouse model, leading to aggravated inflammation, which resulted in an elevated proportion of CD103⁺CD11b⁺ DCs and a significantly elevated proportion of CD4⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs in the intestinal lamina propria. After co-culturing CD4⁺ T cells and DCs, we found that CD103⁺CD11b⁺ DCs could significantly promote the proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells. The elevated proportions of CD4⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs were considered to be correlated with the increased number of CD103⁺CD11b⁺ DCs.

Effect of Olea europaea leaves extract on streptozotocin induced diabetes in male albino rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of olive (Olea europaea) leaves extract on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats. The experimental rats were divided into six groups. Rats of the first group were served as normal controls. Rats of the second group were diabetic control. The third and fourth groups were diabetic rats, treated with olive leaves extract at low and high doses respectively. The fifth and sixth groups were non diabetic rats, subjected to olive leaves extract at the same doses given to the third and fourth groups respectively. The minimum of body weigh gain was noted in diabetic rats of the second group. the levels of serum glucose, insulin, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased, while the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), superoxide dismutase, (SOD) glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) were statistically decreased in diabetic rats of the second group. The levels of liver insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and insulin receptor A (IRA) were significantly declined in diabetic rats of the second group. The diabetic pancreatic sections from diabetic rats of the second group showed several histopathological changes. Administration of low and high doses of olive leaves extract improved the observed physiological, molecular and histopathological alterations. Collectively, the obtained results confirmed that the protective effects of olive leaves extract are attributed to the antioxidant activities of olive leaves extract and its active constituents.

Effects of Caralluma russeliana stem extract on some physiological parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Caralluma russeliana stem extract on some physiological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetes in male Wistar rats after 8 weeks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental rats were randomly assigned into four groups. Rats of group 1 were normal controls. Rats of group 2 were diabetic controls. Rats of group 3 were diabetic rats treated with C. russeliana stem extract. Rats of group 4 were non-diabetic rats, subjected to C. russeliana stem extract.

RESULTS

The lowest body weight gain was noticed in diabetic rats of group 2. Serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, ALP, total bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid levels were significantly elevated in diabetic rats of group 2; however, total serum protein, albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced in diabetic rats of group 2.

CONCLUSION

Treatments with C. russeliana stem extract in diabetic rats revealed notable diminishing and protecting effects of physiological modifications. Therefore, this study revealed the significance of using C. russeliana stem extract as a promising remedial agent to treat diabetes and its complications.

Broad Infiltration of Macrophages Leads to a Proinflammatory State in Streptozotocin-Induced Hyperglycemic Mice

Chronic diseases are often associated with altered inflammatory response, leading to increased host vulnerability to new inflammatory challenges. Employing streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes as a model, we further investigate mechanisms leading to enhanced neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMN]) responses under hyperglycemia and compare them with those under chronic colitis. We show that, different from colitis under which the PMN response is significantly potentiated, the existence of a proinflammatory state associated with broad increases in macrophages in various organs plays a dominant role in promoting the PMN inflammatory response in diabetic mice. Studies of PMN infiltration during zymosan-induced peritonitis reveal that hyperglycemia enhances PMN recruitment not through inducing a high level of IL-17, which is the case in colitis, but through increasing F4/80⁺ macrophages in the peritoneal cavity, resulting in elevations of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and CXCL1 production. Insulin reversal of hyperglycemia, but not the neutralization of IL-17, reduces peritoneal macrophage numbers and ameliorates PMN infiltration during peritonitis. Significantly increased macrophages are also observed in the liver, kidneys, and intestines under hyperglycemia, and they are attributable to exacerbated nephropathy and colitis when inflammatory conditions are induced by doxorubicin and dextran sulfate sodium, respectively. Furthermore, analyses of monocyte production and macrophage proliferation in tissues suggest that significant monocytosis of inflammatory F4/80⁺Gr-1⁺ monocytes from the spleen and macrophage proliferation in situ synergistically contribute to the increased macrophage population under hyperglycemia. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice develop a systemic proinflammatory state mediated by broad infiltration of macrophages.

A pharmacological appraisal of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential

Diabetes mellitus is a complicated metabolic disorder that has gravely troubled the human health and quality of life. Conventional agents are being used to control diabetes along with lifestyle management. However, they are not entirely effective and no one has ever been reported to have fully recovered from diabetes. Numerous medicinal plants have been used for the management of diabetes mellitus in various traditional systems of medicine worldwide as they are a great source of biological constituents and many of them are known to be effective against diabetes. Medicinal plants with antihyperglycemic activities are being more desired, owing to lesser side-effects and low cost. This review focuses on the various plants that have been reported to be effective in diabetes. A record of various medicinal plants with their established antidiabetic and other health benefits has been reported. These include Allium sativa, Eugenia jambolana, Panax ginseng, Gymnema sylvestre, Momrodica charantia, Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Trigonella foenum graecum and Tinospora cordifolia. All of them have shown a certain degree of antidiabetic activity by different mechanisms of action.

Regulation of the inflammatory response: enhancing neutrophil infiltration under chronic inflammatory conditions

Neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMN]) infiltration plays a central role in inflammation and is also a major cause of tissue damage. Thus, PMN infiltration must be tightly controlled. Using zymosan-induced peritonitis as an in vivo PMN infiltration model, we show in this study that PMN response and infiltration were significantly enhanced in mice experiencing various types of systemic inflammation, including colitis and diabetes. Adoptive transfer of leukocytes from mice with inflammation into healthy recipients or from healthy into inflammatory recipients followed by inducing peritonitis demonstrated that both circulating PMN and tissue macrophages were altered under inflammatory conditions and that they collectively contributed to enhanced PMN infiltration. Detailed analyses of dextran sulfate sodium-elicited colitis revealed that enhancement of PMN infiltration and macrophage function occurred only at the postacute/chronic phase of inflammation and was associated with markedly increased IL-17A in serum. In vitro and ex vivo treatment of isolated PMN and macrophages confirmed that IL-17A directly modulates these cells and significantly enhances their inflammatory responses. Neutralization of IL-17A eliminated the enhancement of PMN infiltration and IL-6 production and also prevented severe tissue damage in dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice. Thus, IL-17A produced at the chronic stage of colitis serves as an essential feedback signal that enhances PMN infiltration and promotes inflammation.

Evaluation of glycemic and lipid profile of offspring of diabetic Wistar rats treated with Malpighia emarginata juice

Knowing that maternal diabetes is related to hyperglycemia and fetal hyperinsulinemia, which affect the lipid metabolism, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Malpighia emarginata (acerola) juice on the glycemic and lipid profile of offspring of diabetic and nondiabetic Wistar rats. The adult offspring of non-diabetic dams and of dams with severe streptozotocin-induced diabetes were divided into groups: G1, offspring (of control dams) treated with water, G2, offspring (of diabetic dams) treated with water, G3, male offspring (of control dams) treated with acerola juice, and G4, male offspring (of diabetic dams) treated with acerola juice. The offspring of diabetic dams treated with acerola juice showed significantly decreased levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and increased HDL-c. The use of acerola juice is a potential strategy to aid in the prevention of DM and dyslipidemia and its complications or to act as an auxiliary in the treatment of these diseases.

Influences of crude extract of tea leaves, Camellia sinensis, on streptozotocin diabetic male albino mice

Natural remedies from medicinal plants are considered to be effective and safe alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypoglycemic activity of the crude tea leaves extract on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The average body weight of animals with diabetes and their percentage changes of body weight gain after 15 and 30 days were significantly lower than that of the normal control mice. In diabetic mice, supplementation with tea leaves extract decreased the loss of body weight. After 15 and 30 days, significant increases in the levels of serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, urea, uric acid, glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase (GOT) were noted in STZ-diabetic mice fed with normal diet. Also, the values of total protein in this group were statistically declined after 15 and 30 days. The levels of serum glucose and GPT were significantly elevated after 15 and 30 days in diabetic mice supplemented with tea leaves extract. Moreover, the level of serum GOT was notably increased after 30 days. Insignificant alterations were observed in the levels of serum triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, creatinine, urea and uric acid in diabetic mice supplemented with tea leaves extract. Thus, the present results have shown that tea leaves extract has the antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and antihyperproteinemic effects and consequently may alleviate liver and kidney damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes in mice.