Ameliorative Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus Stem Bark on Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Effect of Dalbergiella welwitschi alkaloid-rich extracts on neuroprotective in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The neuroprotective ability of alkaloid-rich leaf extract of Dalbergiella welwitschii in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats were investigated in this study. Dalbergiella welwitshii leaf alkaloid-rich extract was obtained using standard procedure. Streptozotocin was injected into the experimental animals intraperitoneally at a dose of 45 mg/mg body weight. Prior to this, the animals were given 20% (w/v) fructose for one week. The animals were grouped into five (n = 8), comprising of normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic rats treated with low (50 mg/mg body weight) and high (100 mg/kg body weight) doses of Dalbergiella welwitschii alkaloid-rich leaf extracts (i.e., DWL and DWH respectively) and 200 mg/kg body weight of metformin (MET). The animals were sacrificed on the 21st day, blood and brain tissue were harvested and used for the determination of neurotransmitters, cholinesterase, some ATP activities, oxidative stress biomarkers and histological examination. The results show that diabetic rats placed on DWL, DWH and MET significantly (p < 0.05) reduced cholinergic, elevated some ATPase activities and ameliorated oxidative stress biomarkers. These were supported by the histological examination by improving neuroprotective effects in diabetic rats administered DWL, DWH and MET. Hence, it can be presumed that DWL and DWH could be beneficial in treating diabetic neurodegenerative diseases.

Waste to Wealth: Dynamics and metabolic profiles of the conversion of jackfruit flake into value-added products by different fermentation methods

Thus far, little is known about whether jackfruit flake, a byproduct of jackfruit, can be used as a fermentation substrate to obtain value-added products through microbial fermentation. Here, jackfruit flake puree was fermented by three different ways: spontaneous fermentation (JF), inoculated with LAB (JFL), inoculated co-fermentation with LAB and yeast (JFC). In contrast to JF, the total polyphenol and flavonoid content and syndrome-associated enzyme inhibition are significantly increased in JFC at the end of fermentation. Electronic tongue analysis revealed that the JFC was significantly lower in astringency and higher in bitterness. 41 volatile compounds were identified during fermentation by HS-SPME-GC-MS, and JFC was richer in honey, rose, and fruity flavors. A total of 290 compounds were screened for discriminative pre- and post-fermentation differential metabolites by non-target metabolomics analysis. These results provide a potential reference for the conversion of jackfruit waste into functional products using fermentation.

Anacardium occidentale leaves extract and riboceine mitigate hyperglycemia through anti-oxidative effects and modulation of some selected genes associated with diabetes

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading causes of death globally and complications of DM have become a major health concern. Anacardium occidentale is a plant widely recognized for its hypoglycemic properties and traditionally used in developing nations as remedy for DM treatment. Riboceine is a supplement that enhances production of glutathione and known for its vital role in supporting cellular function. This study was designed to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of riboceine and ethanolic extract of A. occidentale leaves in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Method

Twenty-nine adult male Wistar rats were induced with DM intraperitoneally using a single dose of STZ (70 mg/kg). The STZ-induced rats were divided into groups and administered the same dose (100 mg/kg) of A. occidentale leaves extract and riboceine via gastric gavage at the dose (100 mg/kg) for seventeen days while metformin (40 mg/kg) was used as positive control. Fasting blood glucose and weight of the model rats were examined periodically. Activities of total protein, creatinine, urea, antioxidants (SOD, GSH and GPX), and level of serum insulin were determined. Expression of diabetes related genes including pancreas (Insulin, pdx-1, P16NK4A, and Mki-67), Liver (FAS, ACC, and GFAT) and KIM-1 genes were also determined.

Results

Data showed that treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with A. occidentale and riboceine at the same dose significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated hyperglycemic effects by improving hepatic and renal functions and antioxidants, preventing hepatic fat accumulation by downregulation of ACC, FAS and GFAT expression, improving β-cell functions through up-regulation of pancreatic insulin, P16NK4A, Mki-67 and pdx-1 expression. Induction of diabetes upregulated mRNA expression of KIM-1, which was ameliorated after treatment of the rats with A. occidentale and riboceine.

Conclusion

The results obtained in this study demonstrate significant antidiabetic properties of ethanolic extract of A. occidentale and riboceine.

GC-MS analysis of bioactive compounds and antibacterial activity of nangka leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam)

Nangka is a plant that has various kinds of potential both because of the nutritional content provided through the fruit and also part of the content of bioactive compounds contained in the leaves. This study aims to identify the content of bioactive compounds and determine their content using GC-MS and determine the potential antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermis, S. typhi, P. acnes from the ethanol extract of nangka leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam). Screening results showed positive containing phenolic groups, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. The results of determining the content of bioactive compounds for phenolics, tannins and flavonoids were 27.654±0.054 mg GAE/g d.w ethanolic extract, 0.46±0.017 mg TAE/g d.w ethanolic extract and 2.978±0.192 mg QE/g d.w ethanolic extract. GC-MS analysis showed the content of octadecanoic acid with a retention time of 36.489 minutes with a concentration of 29.91% and the ethanolic extract of nangka leaves had good potential activity as an antibacterial.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) in health and disease: a critical review

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Family Moraceae), is a tropical tree, native to India and common in Asia, Africa, and several regions in South America. The fruit is commonly known as jackfruit which is one of the largest edible fruits in the world. Jackfruits comprises a wide range of nutrients, including minerals, carbohydrates, volatile compounds, proteins, and vitamins. The fruit, bark, leaves, and roots are endowed with therapeutic attributes and are utilized in the many traditional medicinal systems for the management of various ailments. Fruit and seeds are commonly used to prepare various food items, including sauce, ice creams, jams, jellies, and marmalades. Due to unique texture, jackfruit is becoming a popular meat substitute. Based on preclinical studies, jackfruit exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-melanin, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiviral, anthelmintic, wound-healing, and antineoplastic activities. Clinical studies reveal that the leaves possess antidiabetic action in healthy and insulin-independent diabetic individuals. Despite numerous health benefits, regrettably, jackfruit has not been properly utilized in a marketable scale in areas where it is produced. This review delivers an updated, comprehensive, and critical evaluation on the nutritional value, phytochemical profiling, pharmacological attributes and underlying mechanisms of action to explore the full potential of jackfruit in health and disease.

Efficacy of green jackfruit flour as a medical nutrition therapy replacing rice or wheat in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Medical nutrition therapy along with pharmacological interventions as a multidisciplinary approach is required to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study evaluated the efficacy of Jackfruit365™ green jackfruit flour as an integral part of daily meal in patients with T2DM.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted between May 2019 and February 2020. Patients of either sex aged ≥18 to ≤60 years with a diagnosis of T2DM for >1 year receiving oral antihyperglycemic agents were randomized (1:1) to receive either jackfruit flour 30 g/day (Group A) or placebo flour (Group B) (breakfast and dinner) daily for 12 weeks replacing an equal volume of rice or wheat flour. The primary endpoint was a mean change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Other endpoints were mean changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), lipid profile, and body weight. The independent t-test was used to compare changes between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients were enrolled (n = 20 each). A significantly higher reduction in HbA1c was observed in Group A compared to Group B from baseline to week 12 [-2.73 mmol/mol (-0.25%) vs. 0.22 mmol/mol (0.02%), p = 0.006]. The mean change in FPG and PPG was significantly higher in Group A than that of Group B (p = 0.043 and p = 0.001). The continuous glucose monitoring showed decreasing mean blood glucose in 7 days of administration of jackfruit flour meal.

CONCLUSION

Patients from Group A had a significantly higher reduction in HbA1c, FPG, and PPG than Group B demonstrating the efficacy of jackfruit flour in glycemic control as medical nutrition therapy replacing an equal volume of rice or wheat flour in daily meal.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

CTRI/2019/05/019417.

Ameliorating activity of polyphenolic-rich extracts of Basella rubra L. leaves on pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVES

To assess the ameliorative activity of polyphenolic-rich extracts of Basella rubra leaves on β-cell dysfunction in type-II diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

Total phenolic and flavonoid contents; α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory actions and qualitative analysis of the bioactive compounds of the polyphenolic-rich extract of B. rubra leaves were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) and the rats were orally given bound phenolic (BPE) and free phenolic extracts (FPE) of B. rubra (B.R) leaves at 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w once daily for 14 days. Biochemical analyses were executed for evaluation of serum insulin, serum lipid profile concentrations, liver enzymes activities.

RESULTS

The extracts demonstrated antioxidant potentials and enzymes inhibitory activities in dose dependent manner; and several bioactive compounds as revealed by GC-MS. BPE and FPE considerably (p<0.05) reduced hyperglycemia, improved serum insulin levels, ameliorated the concentration of serum lipid profiles and improved liver antioxidant activities. Additionally, BPE and FPE expressively decreased alanine aminotransferases (ALT), aspartate aminotransferases (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities along with levels of bilirubin and urea when compare to diabetic control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Data acquired exhibited the ability of BPE and FPE to improve pancreatic beta-cell in streptozotocin-induced rats.

The ameliorative activity of Chrysobalanus orbicularis in streptozotocin-induced type II diabetes mellitus rat model

Chrysobalanus orbicularis is a medicinal plant present in West Africa in the Itsekiri speaking part of Nigeria. It is used conventionally in diabetes mellitus management. This research investigates the ameliorative activity of the aqueous leaf extract of C. orbicularis in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Freshly prepared streptozotocin (40 mg/kg body weight [BW]) was administered intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Three diabetic groups were placed on aqueous leaf extract of C. orbicularis at 11.076, 22.134, and 44.268 mg/kg BW respectively; a group was placed on metformin (44.28 mg/kg BW), and the other two groups were the diabetic control and normal control. The experiment lasted for 28 days, thereafter, fasting blood glucose levels and body weight variations were recorded. Also, glycogen level, antioxidant enzyme, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities, malonaldehyde (MDA) as well as glucose transporters 2 and 4 levels were analyzed using standard procedures. Diabetic rats administered aqueous extract of C. orbicularis leaf significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the fasting blood glucose and MDA levels, and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. In addition, administration of aqueous extract of C. orbicularis leaf to diabetic rats demonstrated a momentous increase in liver glycogen level, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, glutathione transferase, and hexokinase activities as well as GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 levels. The data from this study suggest that the aqueous extract of C. orbicularis leaf may be beneficial in the management of diabetic mellitus and its secondary effects.

Gongronema latifolium Benth. leaf extract attenuates diabetes-induced neuropathy via inhibition of cognitive, oxidative stress and inflammatory response

BACKGROUND

Gongronema latifolium (G. latifolium) Benth. leaves are traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) and other diseases in Nigeria and West Africa. This study was performed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of aqueous extract of G. latifolium leaf against DM. Antidiabetic activity of G. latifolium extracts (6.36, 12.72 and 25.44 mg kg^-1 , i.p.) was determined in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose level and oxidative stress markers catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured. Cognitive biomarkers acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), dopamine (DOPA), serotonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) were measured in the brain of controls and of G. latifolium-treated diabetic rats.

RESULTS

Administration of G. latifolium leaf extract to diabetic rats significantly restored the alterations in the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG). The MDA and NO levels were significantly reduced with an improvement in CAT, SOD, and GPx activity in the kidneys and brains of diabetic rats treated with G. latifolium. Gongronema latifolium also significantly decreased the levels of AChE, BChE, DOPA, serotonin, epinephrine, and nor-epinephrine in diabetic rats. G. latifolium effectively ameliorated COX-2 in diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that leaf extract of G. latifolium improved antioxidant defense against oxidative stress. It displays a neuroprotective effect resulting in the modulation of brain neurotransmitters, which could be considered as a promising treatment therapy. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antihyperlipidemic Activities and Hematological Properties of Ethanol Extract of Blighia Sapida Koenig Bark in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Blighia sapida (BS) has been shown to be rich sources of antioxidant, thus, we evaluated effects of B. sapida Koenig stem bark ethanol extract (BSE) on lipid metabolism and hematological indices in diabetes rats.

Thirty male rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Diabetes was elicited by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (65 mg/kg body weight) once and orally administered with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), B. sapida extract (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight (bw) once daily for 21 days. Serum lipid profile, markers of hepato-renal toxicity and hemato-logical indices were examined using automated analyzer. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically different.

Diabetic untreated animals showed considerably elevated total cholesterol p < 0.05, also, significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP, urea and creatinine compared to control. Triglycerides, LDL-c, VLDL-c, AI and CRI decreased with extract administration and HDL-c increased considerable compared to untreated diabetic rats. Furthermore, significant lower hemoglobin (Hb) levels, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBCs) levels, white blood cells (WBCs) compared to normal animals was recorded in the untreated group. These changes were returned to normal after the administration of extract 50, 100 and 150 mg/ kg body weight. Hence, these effects were most prominent in the animals treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of B. sapida bark.

This indicates that B. sapida stem bark possess anti-hyperlipidemic activity and improved the biochemical parameters within the hematological profile of diabetic rats.

Gongronema latifolium leaf extract modulates hyperglycaemia, inhibits redox imbalance and inflammation in alloxan-induced diabetic nephropathy

Background

Gongronema latifolium leaf is used traditionally to treat diabetes and other diseases. The present study aimed to provide the modulatory effect of G. latifolium on hyperglycemia, inhibitory effect of redox imbalance and inflammation in alloxan-induced nephropathy in Wistar rats.

Methods

Alloxan monohydrate was used to induce diabetes by an intraperitoneal injection of (150 mg/kg). Three diabetic groups were administered aqueous leaf extract of G. latifolium at 6.36, 12.72 and 25.44 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) respectively; a group was administered with metformin (5 mg/kg BW), while the other two were served as positive and negative control. Thereafter, fasting blood glucose, antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, interleukin 2 and 6 were determined.

Results

G. latifolium leaf significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the alloxan-induced increases in blood glucose, MDA, interleukin 2 and interleukin 6 level and increased the alloxan-induced decreases in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reduced and glutathione transferase activity. All these changes compared with those of metformin-treated diabetic rats.

Conclusion

The data from this study suggest that G. latifolium modulates glucose homeostasis as well as inhibiting redox imbalance and inflammation in diabetic rats, which may be attributed to the effects of its phytochemical constituents such as saponins, flavonoids and alkaloids. It also indicated that inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and redox imbalance are likely mechanisms by which G. latifolium leaf exert its antidiabetic action.