The Effects of Berberis integerrima Fruit Extract on Glycemic Control Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Berberis integerrima Bunge root extract combined with spearmint essential oil in the treatment of acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatological disorders. Berberis integerrima Bunge belongs to the Berberidaceae family. Several studies on different Berberis species in addition to B. integerrima have shown antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Spearmint essential oil also has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the topical combination of B. integerrima root extract and spearmint essential oil in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

METHODS

Patients with mild to moderate facial acne who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either drug (B. integerrima extract/spearmint essential oil topical solution) or control (clindamycin 1% topical solution) groups. Each group applied the solution twice a day for 4 weeks. Before and at the end of the intervention, the number of lesions and mGAGS (Modified Global Acne Grading Scale) score were recorded.

RESULTS

Thirty patients in each group of drug and control completed the study. Topical B.integerrima root extract/spearmint essential oil significantly reduced the number of lesions (27.33 ± 26.17 vs. 21.58 ± 21.10; p < 0.001) and mGAGS (18.76 ± 8.61 vs. 13.87 ± 8.14; p < 0.001) at the end of the intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the number of lesions (p = 0.906) and mGAGS (p = 0.882).

CONCLUSIONS

B. integerrima root extract combined with spearmint essential oil has significant anti-acne effects, comparable to topical antibiotic clindamycin. It could be considered as a potential treatment for acne vulgaris. However, more studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations are required to confirm this effect.

Effects and mechanisms of anti-diabetic dietary natural products: an updated review

Diabetes is a global public health issue, characterized by an abnormal level of blood glucose. It can be classified into type 1, type 2, gestational, and other rare diabetes. Recent studies have reported that many dietary natural products exhibit anti-diabetic activity. In this narrative review, the effects and underlying mechanisms of dietary natural products on diabetes are summarized based on the results from epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies. Some fruits (e.g., grape, blueberry, and cherry), vegetables (e.g., bitter melon and Lycium barbarum leaves), grains (e.g., oat, rye, and brown rice), legumes (e.g., soybean and black bean), spices (e.g., cinnamon and turmeric) and medicinal herbs (e.g., Aloe vera leaf and Nigella sativa), and vitamin C and carotenoids could play important roles in the prevention and management of diabetes. Their underlying mechanisms include exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycation effects, inhibiting carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, enhancing insulin action, alleviating insulin resistance, modulating the gut microbiota, and so on. This review can provide people with a comprehensive knowledge of anti-diabetic dietary natural products, and support their further development into functional food to prevent and manage diabetes.

The effects of berberine supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major concern today. Herbal medicine is one helping way to control CVD risks. One conclusive of herbal medicine is Berberine (BBR) and converse about it still exists, to clarify this issue, this meta-analysis was performed. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for RCTs in adults on the effect of BBR supplementation on CVD risk factors up to July 2022. The pooled results showed BBR significantly reduced triglyceride (WMD = -23.70 mg/dl; 95%CI -30.16, -17.25; P < 0.001), total cholesterol (WMD = -20.64 mg/dl; 95%CI -23.65, -17.63; P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein WMD = -9.63 mg/dl; 95%CI, -13.87, -5.39; P < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD = -7.74 mg/dl; 95%CI -10.79, -4.70; P < 0.001), insulin (WMD = -3.27 mg/dl; 95%CI -4.46,-2.07; P < 0.001), HbA1c (WMD = -0.45%; 95%CI -0.68, -0.23; P < 0.001), HOMA-IR (WMD = -1.04; 95%CI -1.55, -0.52; P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (WMD = -5.46 mmHg; 95%CI -8.17, -2.76; P < 0.001), weight (WMD = -0.84; 95%CI -1.34,-0.34; P < 0.001), body mass index (WMD = -0.25 kg/m2; 95%CI -0.46, -0.04; P = 0.020), while increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (WMD = 1.37 mg/dl; 95%CI 0.41,2.23; P = 0.005). The optimal dose of BBR was 1 g/day for TG, TC, and weight, 1.8 g/day for insulin and HOMA-IR, and 5 g/day for HDL. FBG's most efficient time frame was 40 weeks from the beginning of supplementation, whereas DBP and waist circumference was 50 weeks. In conclusion, the lipid profile, FBG balance, obesity parameters, and SBP were improved with BBR supplementation.

Systematic review registration

CRD42022347004.

Isolation and Identification of Polyphenols From Fresh Sweet Sorghum Stems and Their Antibacterial Mechanism Against Foodborne Pathogens

As a C4 energy crop widely planted all over the world, sweet sorghum is mainly used in sugar making and brewing. Fresh sweet sorghum stalks contain many natural ingredients that have antioxidant properties and can significantly inhibit the growth of foodborne pathogens. In this study, the polyphenols in sweet sorghum were extracted by acid ethanol and ion precipitation, and the types of polyphenols were determined by HPLC-MS. The polyphenol content in fresh sweet sorghum stalks was 5.77 mg/g after process optimization with 18 types of phenolic acids identified. The extract had a total antioxidant capacity of 9.4 μmol Trolox/mL. Polyphenol extract of sweet sorghum displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. The extract increased the conductivity of cell suspensions by destroying the membrane structure, resulting in leakage of cell electrolytes. Changes in bacterial morphology and internal structure were indicated. The data describe an optimized process to extract polyphenols from sweet sorghum stalks and the methodology to identify the major components within the extract. The data provide a novel option for the comprehensive utilization of fresh sweet sorghum stalks.