Insulinotropic Activity of Standardized Methanolic Extracts of Ficus deltoidea from Seven Varieties

Crude extract of Ficus deltoidea Jack (FD) as a natural biological therapy

Aim

This study shows how important it is to coordinate research on Ficus deltoidea Jack (FD) so that results from different sources can be compared directly and a scientific conclusion can be made.

Methods

The author looked for research papers on Ficus (F.) deltoidea on Google Scholar, Science Direct, Google.com, Wiley, PubMed, Hindawi, Springer, and other related databases. This analysis excludes data that cannot be trusted, thesis papers, and review articles about F. deltoidea.

Results

In traditional medicine, the plant's leaves and syconia are used to cure a wide variety of ailments, including itchiness, diarrhoea, cancer, sexual dysfunction, age-related issues, malaria, cancer, anxiety, pain, constipation, fever, diabetes, tooth pain, and tooth decay. In vitro and in vivo studies showed the effectiveness of the leaves against cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

Based on the existing research on the health benefits of FD, it is critical to focus on its more active constituents and their identification, determination, further development, and, most importantly, standardization of the leaves for the management and treatment of cancer and its related cases. More research is needed before it can be considered a promising herbal source of novel medication candidates for treating various disorders.

Correlation of chemical profiles obtained from 1 H-NMR and LC-MS metabolomics with α-glucosidase inhibition activity for varietal selections of Ficus deltoidea

INTRODUCTION

Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) is a plant used in Malaysia to treat various ailments, including diabetes. The presence of several varieties raises essential questions regarding which is the potential bioactive variety and what are the bioactive metabolites.

OBJECTIVES

Here, we explored the phytochemical diversity of the seven varieties from Peninsular Malaysia using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses and correlated it with the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

METHODOLOGY

The Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) One-Dimensional (1D)-NMR and LC-MS data were processed, annotated, and correlated with in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory using multivariate data analysis.

RESULTS

The α-glucosidase results demonstrated that different varieties have varying inhibitory effects, with the highest inhibition rate being F. deltoidea var. trengganuensis and var. kunstleri. Furthermore, diverse habitats and plant ages could also influence the inhibitory rate. The heat map from NMR and LC-MS profiles showed unique patterns according to varying levels of α-glucosidase inhibition rate. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) model constructed from both NMR and LC-MS further confirmed the correlation between the α-glucosidase inhibition rate of F. deltoidea varieties and its metabolite profiles. The Variable Influence on Projection (VIP) and correlation coefficient (p(corr)) values values were used to determine the highly relevant metabolites for explaining the anticipated inhibitory action.

CONCLUSION

NMR and LC-MS annotations allow the identification of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins as the key bioactive factors. Our current results demonstrated the value of multivariate data analysis to predict the quality of herbal materials from both biological and chemical aspects.

Teucrium polium: Potential Drug Source for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Simple Summary

Teucrium polium (also known as Golden Germander) is a herb brewed and drunk as a tea by the locals of the Mediterranean region, used mostly to treat a number of illnesses including diabetes. When consumed regularly, the tea can be problematic since some of its ingredients can be toxic or interfere with other medications taken by the patient. Current anti-diabetic medications are not always suitable nor optimal for all patients living with diabetes and therefore new drugs are constantly being sought after which may be more useful and/or present less side effects. Therefore, identifying the specific constituents that give the desired anti-diabetic effect, isolating them and developing them further may provide new useful anti-diabetic drugs. This paper discusses some key compounds found in Golden Germander that might be valuable for developing a new medication for type 2 diabetics whilst outlining some issues with the research conducted thus far.

Abstract

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is rising globally and this disease is proposed to be the next pandemic after COVID-19. Although the cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus is unknown, it is believed to involve a complex array of genetic defects that affect metabolic pathways which eventually lead to hyperglycaemia. This hyperglycaemia arises from an inability of the insulin-sensitive cells to sufficiently respond to the secreted insulin, which eventually results in the inadequate secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells. Several treatments, utilising a variety of mechanisms, are available for type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, more medications are needed to assist with the optimal management of the different stages of the disease in patients of varying ages with the diverse combinations of other medications co-administered. Throughout modern history, some lead constituents from ancient medicinal plants have been investigated extensively and helped in developing synthetic antidiabetic drugs, such as metformin. Teucrium polium L. (Tp) is a herb that has a folk reputation for its antidiabetic potential. Previous studies indicate that Tp extracts significantly decrease blood glucose levels r and induce insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells in vitro. Nonetheless, the constituent/s responsible for this action have not yet been elucidated. The effects appear to be, at least in part, attributable to the presence of selected flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, and rutin). This review aims to examine the reported glucose-lowering effect of the herb, with a keen focus on insulin secretion, specifically related to type 2 diabetes mellitus. An analysis of the contribution of the key constituent flavonoids of Tp extracts will also be discussed.

A Narrative Review of Human Clinical Trials on the Impact of Phenolic-Rich Plant Extracts on Prediabetes and Its Subgroups

Phenolic-rich plant extracts have been demonstrated to improve glycemic control in individuals with prediabetes. However, there is increasing evidence that people with prediabetes are not a homogeneous group but exhibit different glycemic profiles leading to the existence of prediabetes subgroups. Prediabetes subgroups have been identified as: isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and combined impaired fasting glucose and glucose intolerance (IFG/IGT). The present review investigates human clinical trials examining the hypoglycemic potential of phenolic-rich plant extracts in prediabetes and prediabetes subgroups. Artemisia princeps Pampanini, soy (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) leaf and Citrus junos Tanaka peel have been demonstrated to improve fasting glycemia and thus may be more useful for individuals with IFG with increasing hepatic insulin resistance. In contrast, white mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) leaf, persimmon (Diospyros kaki) leaf and Acacia. Mearnsii bark were shown to improve postprandial glycemia and hence may be preferably beneficial for individuals with IGT with increasing muscle insulin resistance. Elaeis guineensis leaf was observed to improve both fasting and postprandial glycemic measures depending on the dose. Current evidence remains scarce regarding the impact of the plant extracts on glycemic control in prediabetes subgroups and therefore warrants further study.

Phytochemical profile and antiproliferative effect of Ficus crocata extracts on triple-negative breast cancer cells

Background

Some species of the Ficus genus show pharmacological activity, including antiproliferative activity, in cell lines of several cancer Types. ficus crocata is distributed in Mexico and used in traditional medicine, as it is believed to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. However, as of yet, there are no scientific reports on its biological activity. This study aims to evaluate the phytochemical profile of F. crocata leaf extracts and their effects on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation. Moreover, the study aims to unearth possible mechanisms involved in the decrease of cell proliferation.

Methods

The extracts were obtained by the maceration of leaves with the solvents hexane, dichloromethane, and acetone. The phytochemical profile of the extracts was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass analysis. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle analysis in MDA-MB-231 cells were determined using a Crystal violet assay, MTT assay, and Annexin-V/PI assay using flow cytometry. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Dunnett’s test.

Results

The hexane (Hex-EFc), dichloromethane (Dic-EFc), and acetone (Ace-EFc) extracts of F. crocata decreased the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells, with Dic-EFc having the strongest effect. Dic-EFc was fractioned and its antiproliferative activity was potentiated, which enhanced its ability to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, as well as increased p53, procaspase-8, and procaspase-3 expression.

Conclusions

This study provides information on the biological activity of F. crocata extracts and suggests their potential use against triple-negative breast cancer.

Ficus deltoidea extract down-regulates protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B expression in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a new insight into its antidiabetic mechanism

Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea Jack (FD) is a well-known plant used in Malay folklore medicine to lower blood glucose in diabetic patients. For further research of the antihyperglycemic mechanisms, the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B)-inhibitory effect of FD was analysed both in vitro and in vivo. To optimise a method for FD extraction, water, 50, 70, 80, 90 and 95 % ethanol extracts were prepared and determined for their total phenolic and triterpene contents, and PTP1B-inhibition capacity. Among the tested extracts, 70 % ethanol FD extract showed a significant PTP1B inhibition (92·0 % inhibition at 200 µg/ml) and high phenolic and triterpene contents. A bioassay-guided fractionation of the 70 % ethanol extract led to the isolation of a new triterpene (3β,11β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-23-oic acid; F3) along with six known compounds. In vivo, 4 weeks' administration of 70 % ethanol FD extract (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg/d) to streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats reversed the abnormal changes of blood glucose, insulin, total Hb, GLUT2, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in liver and pancreas. Moreover, FD reduced the mRNA expression of the key gluconeogenic enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatase) and restored insulin receptor and GLUT2 encoding gene (Slc2a2) expression. In addition, FD significantly down-regulated the hepatic PTP1B gene expression. These results revealed that FD could potentially improve insulin sensitivity, suppress hepatic glucose output and enhance glucose uptake in type 2 diabetes mellitus through down-regulation of PTP1B. Together, our findings give scientific evidence for the traditional use of FD as an antidiabetic agent.

Blood pressure lowering effect of Ficus deltoidea var kunstleri in spontaneously hypertensive rats: possible involvement of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, endothelial function and anti-oxidant system

This study investigated the effects of a standardised ethanol and water extract of Ficus deltoidea var. Kunstleri (FDK) on blood pressure, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), endothelial function and antioxidant system in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Seven groups of male SHR were administered orally in volumes of 0.5 mL of either FDK at doses of 500, 800, 1000 and 1300 mg kg^- 1, or captopril at 50 mg kg^- 1 or losartan at 10 mg kg^- 1 body weight once daily for 4 weeks or 0.5 mL distilled water. Body weight, systolic blood pressures (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured every week. 24-hour urine samples were collected at weeks 0 and 4 for electrolyte analysis. At week 4, sera from rats in the control and 1000 mg kg^- 1 of FDK treated groups were analyzed for electrolytes and components of RAAS, endothelial function and anti-oxidant capacity. SBP at week 4 was significantly lower in all treatment groups, including captopril and losartan, when compared to that of the controls. Compared to the controls, ACE activity and concentrations of angiotensin I, angiotensin II and aldosterone were lower whereas concentrations of angiotensinogen and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 were higher in FDK treated rats. Concentration of eNOS and total anti-oxidant capacity were higher in FDK treated rats. Urine calcium excretion was higher in FDK treated rats. In conclusion, it appears that ethanol and water extract of FDK decreases blood pressure in SHR, which might involve mechanisms that include RAAS, anti-oxidant and endothelial system.