Hypoglycaemic activity of Mathurameha, a Thai traditional herbal formula aqueous extract, and its effect on biochemical profiles of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats

Mathurameha ameliorates cardiovascular complications in high-fat diet/low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats: insights from histological and proteomic analysis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern with increasing prevalence. Mathurameha, a Thai herbal formula, has shown promising glucose-lowering effects and positive impacts on biochemical profiles in diabetic rats. The present study investigated the protective effects of Mathurameha on cardiovascular complications in high-fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic rats using histological and proteomic analyses. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups: normal diet (ND), ND with aqueous extract (ND + AE450), ND with ethanolic extract (ND + EE200), diabetes (DM), DM with AE (DM + AE450), DM with EE (DM + EE200), and DM with metformin (DM + Met). Mathurameha, especially at 200 mg/kg EE, significantly reduced adipocyte size, cardiac and vascular abnormalities, collagen deposition, and arterial wall thickness in DM rats. Proteomic analysis of rat aortas revealed 30 significantly altered proteins among the ND, DM, and DM + EE200 groups. These altered proteins are involved in various biological processes related to diabetes. Biochemical assays showed that Mathurameha reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), increased antioxidant levels (GSH), and decreased the expression of inflammatory markers (ICAM1, TNF-α). In conclusion, Mathurameha exhibited significant protective effects against cardiovascular complications in HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SWATH-proteomics reveals Mathurameha, a traditional anti-diabetic herbal formula, attenuates high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction through the EGF/NO/IL-1β regulatory axis

Mathurameha is a traditional Thai herbal formula with a clinically proven effect of blood sugar reduction in patients with diabetes mellitus, but its anti-diabetic complication potential is largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of Mathurameha and its underlying mechanisms against high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction in human endothelial EA.hy926 cells. After confirming no cytotoxic effects, the cells were treated with normal glucose (NG), high glucose (HG), or high glucose plus Mathurameha (HG + M) for 24 h. A quantitative label-free proteomic analysis using the sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) approach identified 24 differentially altered proteins among the three groups: 7 between HG and NG, 9 between HG + M and NG, and 13 between HG + M and HG. Bioinformatic analyses suggested a potential anti-diabetic action through the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway. Subsequent functional validations demonstrated that Mathurameha reduced the EGF secretion and the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in high glucose-treated cells. Mathurameha also exhibited a stimulatory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production while significantly reducing the secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in high glucose-treated cells. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that Mathurameha attenuated high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction through the EGF/NO/IL-1β regulatory axis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study reveals the potential of Mathurameha, a traditional Thai herbal formula, in mitigating high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction, a common complication in diabetes mellitus. Using proteomics and bioinformatic analyses followed by functional validations, the present study highlights the protective effects of Mathurameha through the EGF/NO/IL-1β regulatory axis. These findings support its potential use as a therapeutic intervention for diabetic vascular complications and provide valuable information for developing more effective anti-diabetic drugs.

Medicinal plants of Southeast Asia with anti-α-glucosidase activity as potential source for type-2 diabetes mellitus treatment

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes mellitus, a widespread chronic illness, affects millions worldwide, and its incidence is increasing alarmingly, especially in developing nations. Current pharmacological treatments can be costly and have undesirable side effects. To address this, medicinal plants with antidiabetic effects, particularly targeting α-glucosidase for controlling hyperglycaemia in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hold promise for drug development with reduced toxicity and adverse reactions.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aims to succinctly collect information about medicinal plant extracts that exhibit antidiabetic potential through α-glucosidase inhibition using acarbose as a standard reference in Southeast Asia. The characteristics of this inhibition are based on in vitro studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information on medicinal plants in Southeast Asia, along with α-glucosidase inhibition studies using acarbose as a positive control, was gathered from various scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

About 49 papers were found from specific counties in Southeast Asia demonstrated notable α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of their medicinal plants, with several plant extracts showcasing activity comparable to or surpassing that of acarbose. Notably, 19 active constituents were identified for their α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the antidiabetic potential of the tested medicinal plant extracts, indicating their promise as alternative treatments for T2DM. This review can aid in the development of potent therapeutic medicines with increased effectiveness and safety for the treatment of T2DM.

Insights into the Cardioprotective Effects of Pyridoxine Treatment in Diabetic Rats: A Study on Cardiac Oxidative Stress, Cardiometabolic Status, and Cardiovascular Biomarkers

The aims of this study were to examine the effects of pyridoxine administration on the activities of cardiac antioxidant stress enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and enzyme indicators of cardiometabolic status, lactate and malate dehydrogenase (LDH, MDH), as well as LDH and MDH isoforms' distribution in the cardiac tissue of healthy and diabetic Wistar male rats. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: C1-control (0.9% sodium chloride-NaCl-1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.), 1 day); C2-second control (0.9% NaCl 1 mL/kg, i.p., 28 days); DM-diabetes mellitus (streptozotocin 100 mg/kg in 0.9% NaCl, i.p., 1 day); P-pyridoxine (7 mg/kg, i.p., 28 days); and DM + P-diabetes mellitus and pyridoxine (streptozotocin 100 mg/kg, i.p., 1 day and pyridoxine 7 mg/kg, i.p., 28 days). Pyridoxine treatment reduced CAT and MDH activity in diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, the administration of pyridoxine increased LDH1 and decreased LDH4 isoform activities, as well as decreased peroxisomal MDH and increased mitochondrial MDH activities. Our findings highlight the positive effects of pyridoxine administration on the complex interplay between oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, and metabolic changes in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibition and Molecular Docking of Isolated Compounds from Traditional Thai Medicinal Plant, Neuropeltis racemosa Wall

Neuropeltis racemosa Wall. (Convolvulaceae) is wildly distributed in Asia. Its stem is used as the component in traditional Thai recipes for treatments of muscle rigidity, skin disorder, dysentery, and hypoglycemia. However, the chemical constituents and biological activities of N. racemosa have not been reported. From a screening assay, N. racemosa stem crude extract showed the potent effect on alpha-glucosidase inhibition at 2 mg/mL as 96.09%. The bioassay-guiding isolation led to 5 compounds that were identified by spectroscopic techniques as scopoletin (1), syringic acid (2), methyl 3-methyl-2-butenoate (3), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (4), and N-trans- coumaroyltyramine (5). Compounds 1, 4, and 5 exhibited an IC₅₀ of 110.97, 29.87, and 0.92 µg/mL, respectively, while the IC₅₀ of positive standard, acarbose was 272.72 µg/mL. Kinetic study showed that compound 1 performed as the mixed-type inhibition mechanism, whereas compounds 4 and 5 displayed the uncompetitive inhibition mechanism. The docking study provided the molecular understanding of isolated aromatic compounds (1, 2, 4 and 5) to alpha-glucosidase. Hence, this study would be the first report of isolated compounds and their anti-alpha-glucosidase activity with the mechanism of action from N. racemosa. Thus, these active compounds will be further studied to be the lead compounds among natural antidiabetic drugs.

A treatment with a boiled aqueous extract of Hancornia speciosa Gomes leaves improves the metabolic status of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background

Hancornia speciosa is usually used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat diabetes. The hypothesis of the present study is that this medicinal plant exerts beneficial effects on hyperglycemia, preventing diabetic complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect of the aqueous extract of H. speciosa leaves on metabolic parameters of diabetic rats.

Methods

The H. speciosa extract (400 mg/Kg) was administered to both nondiabetic and severely diabetic female Wistar rats by gavage. The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test was performed and the area under the curve (AUC) was estimated on day 17 of pregnancy. After 21 days of treatment, the animals were anesthetized and killed to obtain organ weights. Blood samples were collected for an analysis of serum biochemical parameters.

Results

After treatment with the H. speciosa extract, the parameters of nondiabetic rats remained unchanged. In treated diabetic rats, glycemia, AUC, dyslipidemia parameters, and relative organ weights were decreased compared with nontreated diabetic rats. Severely diabetic rats showed decompensated hyperglycemia, polydipsia, hyperphagia and dyslipidemia. However, the aqueous extract of H. speciosa leaves decreased diabetes complications (indicating a lack of toxicity), reduced blood glucose levels, and exerced lipid-lowering effects.

Conclusion

Based on or findings, the H. speciosa leaf extract may be a safe and promising candidate treatment for diabetes and other diseases.

The effect of folic acid administration on cardiac tissue matrix metalloproteinase activity and hepatorenal biomarkers in diabetic rats 1

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that causes severe complications. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the influence of DM and folic acid treatment on liver and renal biomarkers, and heart remodeling through evaluation of cardiac matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. There were 4 groups: control (physiological saline 1 mL/kg, i.p., 28 days), DM (streptozotocin [STZ] 100 mg/kg in physiological saline, i.p., 1 day), folic acid (FA; 5 mg/kg, i.p., 28 days), and DM+FA (STZ 100 mg/kg, i.p., 1 day and folic acid 5 mg/kg, i.p., 28 days). Our results demonstrated increased aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity, urea and creatinine concentration, and decreased albumin and fibrinogen concentration in the DM group. MMP-2 relative activity was elevated in the DM and FA groups; MMP-9 was decreased in the DM and increased in the FA group. The folic acid treatment of diabetic rats did not change aminotransferase activity; it alleviated the increase in alkaline phosphatase and the decrease in albumin and fibrinogen concentration, and reduced MMP-2 activity; however, it increased urea and creatinine concentration. In conclusion, folic acid treatment of diabetic rats has cardio- and hepato-protective effects. However, its dosing should be carefully considered because of possible renal damage.