Diabetogenic effect of gluten in Wistar albino rats: a preliminary preclinical screening

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Garcinia cambogia extracts in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rat model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus, a global health problem, is associated with metabolic complications such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and loss of vision. The present study evaluated the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of ethanol extract of Garcinia cambogia (L.) N. Robson (G. cambogia) fruit rind in a streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic Wistar Rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Streptozotocin-nicotinamide was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes in Wistar rats. Five groups of rats (n=6) - normal control, diabetic, diabetic treated with G. cambogia at 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg body weight, and diabetic treated with metformin at 500 mg/kg body weight, were studied. Blood samples were collected after three weeks of treatment. Random blood glucose (RBG), Serum total cholesterol levels (TCL), serum total triglyceride levels (TGL), high-density lipoprotein levels, and body weight were measured.

RESULTS

Although G. cambogia treatment did not have any antidiabetic activity (p>0.05) rind in the streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic Wistar Rat model, it decreased the serum TCL, and body weight significantly (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanolic extract of G. cambogia fruit rind possesses anti-obesity activity and significantly reduces total cholesterol but does not have antidiabetic activity.

Acute and chronic toxicity studies on ethanolic leaf extracts of Clerodendrum viscosum and Leucas indica in Swiss albino mice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safe dose range of Clerodendrum viscosum (C. viscosum) and Leucas indica (L. indica) ethanolic leaf extracts of acute and chronic oral toxicity study in Swiss Albino mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline was used for the toxicity studies. C. viscosum and L. indica plant extract were administered orally in a single dose of 2000 mg/kg, and general behavior, adverse effects, and mortality were studied for 72 h. For the chronic toxicity study, both plant extracts were administered orally to a separate set of animals at 300 mg/kg doses for 90 days. Animals body weight was taken out, blood and gastric juice were collected for biochemical parameters, and vital organs were collected for histopathological studies after sacrificing test and control group animals.

RESULTS

Both in acute and chronic toxicity assay, there was no significant alteration in body weight, physical signs, symptoms, hematological, biochemical parameters, and body organ weights compared to the normal group. The liver, kidney, and stomach histology did not show any drug-induced lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

The result indicates that the oral administration of C. viscosum and L. indica ethanolic plant extract did not cause any toxicological effects. Hence it could be regarded as a safe natural product for therapeutic use.

Characterization of antidepressant activity of Saraca asoca flower (Roxb.) Wilde in mice subjected to acute restraint stress

BACKGROUND

Long-term stress and chronic stress events play an important role in the etiology of depression. The study aimed to investigate the antidepressant-like effect of freshly prepared crude ethanolic extract of Saraca asoca flower (ESAF) in a mice model of acute restraint stress.

METHODOLOGY

Rhamnazin, Myricetin and Quercetin were analytically characterized through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography from Saraca asoca flower in a 0.1% acetic acid fraction of ethanol. The antidepressant effect was tested by repeated administration of freshly prepared ESAF on mice subjected to repeated and different forms of stress induction for 2 hours every day in the morning and night for seven consecutive days. The antidepressant activity was measured by known behavioral animal models: forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). At the end of the experiment, each group of mice was sacrificed by cervical dislocation, followed by an estimation of the biochemical data.

RESULTS

The oral administration of ESAF in doses of 50, 100, & 250 mg/kg for seven consecutive days gave a significant decrease in the time of immobility (P<0.05) and reversed the depression-like behavior induced by acute restraint methods and behavioral models. ESAF treated groups showed a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity in the hippocampus of the acutely restrained mice. In addition, ESAF 250 mg/kg reduced plasma corticosterone levels in mice subjected to different forms of acute restraint stress compared to other groups, comparable to the standard imipramine.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed the antidepressant activity of the ESAF. This effect may be attributed to the presence of antioxidant bioflavonoids namely, Rhamnazin, Myricetin and quercetin. Reduction in the plasma corticosterone levels along with an increase in the antioxidant enzymatic activity such as GSP-PX and SOD in the mice's hippocampus is the proposed molecular hypothesis for its neuroprotective mechanism.

Serum Ischemia-Modified Albumin, Fibrinogen, High Sensitivity C- Reactive Proteins in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus without Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus with Hypertension: A Case-Control Study

Background

The objective of this study was to determine the levels of serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), fibrinogen (FIB) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with hypertension (HT) (DMT2HTN) and without HT (DMT2). Also, their association with certain biochemical and physical factors were studied to identify possible risk factors that lead to cardiovascular complications.

Methods

Fasting blood samples were collected from 35 DMT2 or DMT2HTN patients each to analyze differences in serum and plasma levels of IMA, hs-CRP, FIB, total cholesterol (TC), high and low density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL), triglyceride (TG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), glycated hemoglobin and creatinine.

Results

In DMT2 and DMT2HTN patients, IMA, hs-CRP, FIB, TC, TG, HDL, LDL, glycated hemoglobin and creatinine levels, including body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), were significantly higher relative to healthy controls. In addition, the levels of IMA, hs-CRP and FIB levels showed a strong link to BMI, WHR, TC, TG, LDL and glycated hemoglobin. Lastly, both DMT2 and DMT2HTN patients demonstrated a significant reduction in HDL.

Conclusion

DMT2 and DMT2HTN patients have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular related complications. This study suggests that quantifying hs-CRP, IMA and FIB levels can help diagnose the risk of developing complications during the early stages of metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Overall, the specific risk factors may be used for early identification of cardiovascular complications to decrease mortality and morbidity in T2DM patients.