Anion Gap Toxicity in Alloxan Induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats Treated with Antidiabetic Noncytotoxic Bioactive Compounds of Ethanolic Extract of Moringa oleifera

n-Butanol fraction of moringa seed attenuates arsenic intoxication by regulating the uterine inflammatory and apoptotic pathways

The adverse effects of arsenic-chelating drugs make it essential to replace invasive chelating therapy with non-invasive oral therapy for arsenic poisoning. The goal of the current investigation was to determine whether the uterine damage caused by arsenization could be repaired by the n-butanol fraction of Moringa oleifera seed (NB). The rats were orally administered with arsenic (10 mg/kg BW) for the initial 8 days, followed by NB (50 mg/kg) for the next 8 days without arsenic. The probable existence of different components in NB was evaluated by HPLC-MS. Pro and anti-inflammatory indicators were assessed by RT-PCR and western blot. ESR-α was detected via immunostaining. Arsenic-exposed rats had significantly increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, which were markedly reduced after NB treatment. Weaker ESR-α expression and distorted uterine histomorphology following arsenication were retrieved significantly by NB. Meaningful restoration by NB was also achieved for altered mRNA and protein expression of various inflammatory and apoptotic indicators. Molecular interaction predicted that glucomoringin and methyl glucosinolate of moringa interact with the catalytic site of caspase-3 in a way that limits its activity. However, NB was successful in restoring the arsenic-mediated uterine hypofunction. The glucomoringin and methyl glucosinolate present in n-butanol fraction may play a critical role in limiting apoptotic event in the arsenicated uterus.

The Future of Moringa Foods: A Food Chemistry Perspective

The tree Moringa oleifera Lam. provides its leaves, pods, flowers and seeds for human nutrition. The chemical profile of all these Moringa products varies substantially, not only among the different parts of the plants used. Cultivating, processing as well as storage conditions chiefly determine the contents of nutrients and anti-nutritive constituents. Anti-nutrients, e.g., phytic acid or tannins, are present in notable amounts and may affect micronutrient bioavailability. Although Moringa oleifera products have been promoted for several health benefits and are discussed as an alternative treatment in various diseases, risk assessment studies evaluating contamination levels are scarce. Recent investigations have demonstrated alarming contents of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and mycotoxins in Moringa oleifera products, indicating the need for a comprehensive risk assessment and contingent legal regulation of these products. In this mini review, we briefly outline pivotal, food chemistry and nutrition related data on Moringa preparations in order to stimulate in-depth research to close the presented knowledge gaps.

Effect of Total Suspended Particulate Matter in the Air on Inflammation Factors and Apoptotic Markers in Diabetic Rats: The Protective Effect of Insulin and Crocin

Background

The effect of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was investigated on the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic factors in diabetic rats, and the effect of crocin and insulin was examined on these factors.

Methods

Fifty-four adult male wistar rats were divided into nine experimental groups: control group, crocin group (received crocin, 50 mg/kg), diabetic group (received a single dose of alloxan at 120 mg/kg, IP), TSP group (5 mg/kg TSP instilled intratracheally), diabetic-crocin group (received crocin at 50 mg/kg after the induction of diabetes by alloxan (120 mg/kg)), diabetic-insulin group (received regular insulin (5 U/kg), crocin-TSP group (received crocin at 50 mg/kg, IP, and then 5 mg/kg TSP was instilled intratracheally), diabetic-TSP-insulin group (after receiving alloxan (120 mg/kg) and instilling TSP (5 mg/kg, intratracheally), a single dose (5 U/kg) of regular insulin), and diabetic-TSP-crocin group (after receiving alloxan (120 mg/kg) and instilling TSP (5 mg/kg, intratracheally), a single dose of crocin (50 mg/kg, IP)). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression of the mRNAs of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl2) and inflammatory mediators (TNFα, COX2, iNOS/eNOS) in Wistar rats.

Results

In diabetic and TSP groups the inflammatory factors and BAX/Bcl2 ratio significantly increased compared to the control group. In diabetic-TSP-insulin and diabetic-TSP-crocin, a significant decrease was observed in the rate of inflammatory factors and BAX/Bcl2 ratio.

Conclusion

The results suggested that diabetes and exposure to TSP increase the rate of apoptosis and inflammation, and also demonstrated the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammation role of insulin and crocin.

Potential of Moringa oleifera to Improve Glucose Control for the Prevention of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Alterations: A Systematic Review of Animal and Human Studies

Moringa oleifera (MO) is a multipurpose plant consumed as food and known for its medicinal uses, among others. Leaves, seeds and pods are the main parts used as food or food supplements. Nutritionally rich and with a high polyphenol content in the form of phenolic acids, flavonoids and glucosinolates, MO has been shown to exert numerous in vitro activities and in vivo effects, including hypoglycemic activity. A systematic search was carried out in the PubMed database and reference lists on the effects of MO on glucose metabolism. Thirty-three animal studies and eight human studies were included. Water and organic solvent extracts of leaves and, secondly, seeds, have been extensively assayed in animal models, showing the hypoglycemic effect, both under acute conditions and in long-term administrations and also prevention of other metabolic changes and complications associated to the hyperglycemic status. In humans, clinical trials are scarce, with variable designs and testing mainly dry leaf powder alone or mixed with other foods or MO aqueous preparations. Although the reported results are encouraging, especially those from postprandial studies, more human studies are certainly needed with more stringent inclusion criteria and a sufficient number of diabetic or prediabetic subjects. Moreover, trying to quantify the bioactive substances administered with the experimental material tested would facilitate comparison between studies.

Moringa oleifera and glycemic control: A review of current evidence and possible mechanisms

Maintaining glycemic control in diabetes and prediabetes is necessary to prevent many health complications and mortality. Although different hypoglycemic drugs are used for this purpose, there is still a growing interest in the use of medicinal plants due to their low price, easy availability, and fewer or no side effects. Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in the management of diabetes. This review aims to present the existing literature published until February 2019 on the role of moringa leaves in glycemia and their physiological mechanisms. In the conducted studies, moringa leaves have shown to reduce glycemia, without causing any adverse effects. The proposed mechanisms for reducing glycemia include inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, increased glucose uptake in the muscles and liver, inhibition of glucose uptake from the intestine, decreased gluconeogenesis in the liver, and increased insulin secretion and sensitivity. However, these studies are limited in numbers and mostly conducted in animals, in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, long-term human studies are required to determine the hypoglycemic effect of moringa leaves, their physiological mechanisms, active ingredients, and safety. Overall, this review provides evidence that moringa leaves have the possibility to be used as a glycemic control agent in diabetes and prediabetes.

Nutraceutical or Pharmacological Potential of Moringa oleifera Lam

Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera), which belongs to the Moringaceae family, is a perennial deciduous tropical tree, and native to the south of the Himalayan Mountains in northern India. M. oleifera is rich in proteins, vitamin A, minerals, essential amino acids, antioxidants, and flavonoids, as well as isothiocyanates. The extracts from M. oleifera exhibit multiple nutraceutical or pharmacological functions including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and blood lipid-reducing functions. The beneficial functions of M. oleifera are strongly associated with its phytochemicals such as flavonoids or isothiocyanates with bioactivity. In this review, we summarize the research progress related to the bioactivity and pharmacological mechanisms of M. oleifera in the prevention and treatment of a series of chronic diseases-including inflammatory diseases, neuro-dysfunctional diseases, diabetes, and cancers-which will provide a reference for its potential application in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases or health promotion.

A murine model of type 2 diabetes mellitus developed using a combination of high fat diet and multiple low doses of streptozotocin treatment mimics the metabolic characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans

INTRODUCTION

A murine model of type 2 diabetes mellitus was used to compare the antidiabetic effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor vildagliptin and biguanide, metformin.

METHODS

Swiss albino mice (n=20 males; n=25 females) were given high fat diet (HFD) ad libitum for 3weeks followed by low dose (40mgkg^-1 body weight, bw daily) of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally five times from the 22nd day of treatment onwards, with HFD continued up to 26th day. Controls (n=15 males; n=15 females) were fed normal balanced diet without administration of STZ. Successful induction of diabetes mellitus was confirmed by testing for fasting blood glucose, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and intraperitoneal insulin sensitivity. Diabetic mice were administered vildagliptin (10mgkg^-1 bw daily) and metformin (50mgkg^-1 bw daily) orally for 4weeks. Control, diabetic, vildagliptin and metformin-treated diabetic mice were evaluated for alterations in lipid profile using blood serum and histopathology and oxidative stress using tissues including liver, kidney and heart.

RESULTS

Diabetic mice showed significant alterations in lipid profile, tissue histopathology, impaired glucose tolerance, lower insulin sensitivity and elevated lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation, with depressed catalase activity, when compared to age and gender-matched controls. Metformin and vildagliptin ameliorated the abovementioned diabetic conditions, with vildagliptin found to be more effective.

DISCUSSION

A murine model developed by the combination of HFD and multiple low dose of STZ mimics the metabolic characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans, and may be useful for antidiabetic drug screening.

Food safety assessment of an antifungal protein from Moringa oleifera seeds in an agricultural biotechnology perspective

Mo-CBP3 is an antifungal protein produced by Moringa oleifera which has been investigated as potential candidate for developing transgenic crops. Before the use of novel proteins, food safety tests must be conducted. This work represents an early food safety assessment of Mo-CBP3, using the two-tiered approach proposed by ILSI. The history of safe use, mode of action and results for amino acid sequence homology using the full-length and short contiguous amino acids sequences indicate low risk associated to this protein. Mo-CBP3 isoforms presented a reasonable number of alignments (>35% identity) with allergens in a window of 80 amino acids. This protein was resistant to pepsin degradation up to 2 h, but it was susceptible to digestion using pancreatin. Many positive attributes were presented for Mo-CBP3. However, this protein showed high sequence homology with allergens and resistance to pepsin digestion that indicates that further hypothesis-based testing on its potential allergenicity must be done. Additionally, animal toxicity evaluations (e.g. acute and repeated dose oral exposure assays) must be performed to meet the mandatory requirements of several regulatory agencies. Finally, the approach adopted here exemplified the importance of performing an early risk assessment of candidate proteins for use in plant transformation programs.