Cola Nitida (Kola Nuts) Attenuates Hepatic Injury in Type 2 Diabetes by Improving Antioxidant and Cholinergic Dysfunctions and Dysregulated Lipid Metabolism

Lippia javanica (Burm. F.) Herbal Tea: Modulation of Hepatoprotective Effects in Chang Liver Cells via Mitigation of Redox Imbalance and Modulation of Perturbed Metabolic Activities

Introduction: Hepatic oxidative injury is one of the pathological mechanisms that significantly contributes to the development of several liver diseases. In the present study, the hepatoprotective effect of Lippia javanica herbal tea was investigated in Fe2+- mediated hepatic oxidative injury. Methods: Using an in vitro experimental approach, hepatic oxidative injury was induced by co-incubating 7 mM FeSO4 with Chang liver cells that have been pre-incubated with or without different concentrations (15-240 μg/mL) of L. javanica infusion. Gallic acid and ascorbic acid served as the standard antioxidants. Results: The infusion displayed a reducing antioxidant activity in ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and a potent scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. Pretreatment with L. javanica infusion significantly elevated the levels of reduced glutathione and non-protein thiol, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, with concomitant decrease in hepatic malondialdehyde levels, acetylcholinesterase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase and lipase activities. The infusion showed the presence of phytoconstituents such as phenolic compounds, tannins, phenolic glycosides and terpenoids when subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Molecular docking revealed a strong binding affinity of dihydroroseoside and obacunone with both SOD and catalase compared to other phytoconstituents. Conclusion: These results portray a potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of L. javanica, which may support the local usage of the herbal tea as a prospective therapeutic agent for oxidative stress-related liver diseases.

Indigenous Nigeria medicinal herbal remedies: A potential source for therapeutic against rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease associated with locomotion impairment, and conventional therapeutic drugs are not optimal for managing RA. There is an avalanche of medications used for the management of RA. Still, studies have shown that they are associated with severe side effects, including hepatotoxicity, retinopathy, and cardiotoxicity disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), skin, blood, and infections. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is currently gaining attention as a novel panacea for managing debilitating diseases, such as RA. Nigerian folk herbal remedies are replete with a plethora of curative medicine, albeit unvalidated scientifically but with seemingly miraculous provenance. Studies of the identification of bioactive compounds present in these botanicals using advanced spectral analytical techniques have enhanced our understanding of the role of Nigerian herbal remedies in the treatment and management of RA. Interestingly, experimental studies abound that the bioactive compounds present in the extracts of plant botanicals protected animals from the development of RA in different experimental models and reduced the toxicity associated with conventional therapeutics. Validated mechanisms of RA amelioration in human and animal models include suppression of the expression of NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-23, chemokines, TGF-β, RANKL, RANK, iNOS, arginase, COX-2, VEGFA, VEGFR, NFATC1, and TRAP in the synoviocytes. Decreased ROS, NO, MDA, carbonyl groups, and PGE₂ in the synovial fluid increased the expression of PPARα/γ; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules also improve RA etiology. In this mini-review, we discuss the global burden of RA, the novel role of plant-based botanicals as potential therapeutics against signaling pathways in RA. Also addressed is the possible repurposing/reprofiling of plant botanicals to increase their therapeutic index among RA patients that patronize traditional healers in Nigeria with a global projection.

Exosomes as Promising Nanostructures in Diabetes Mellitus: From Insulin Sensitivity to Ameliorating Diabetic Complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the chronic metabolic disorders that its incidence rate has shown an increase in developed and wealthy countries due to lifestyle and obesity. The treatment of DM has always been of interest, and significant effort has been made in this field. Exosomes belong to extracellular vesicles with nanosized features (30-150 nm) that are involved in cell-to-cell communication and preserving homeostasis. The function of exosomes is different based on their cargo, and they may contain lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The present review focuses on the application of exosomes in the treatment of DM; both glucose and lipid levels are significantly affected by exosomes, and these nanostructures enhance lipid metabolism and decrease its deposition. Furthermore, exosomes promote glucose metabolism and affect the level of glycolytic enzymes and glucose transporters in DM. Type I DM results from the destruction of β cells in the pancreas, and exosomes can be employed to ameliorate apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in these cells. The exosomes have dual functions in mediating insulin resistance/sensitivity, and M1 macrophage-derived exosomes inhibit insulin secretion. The exosomes may contain miRNAs, and by transferring among cells, they can regulate various molecular pathways such as AMPK, PI3K/Akt, and β-catenin to affect DM progression. Noteworthy, exosomes are present in different body fluids such as blood circulation, and they can be employed as biomarkers for the diagnosis of diabetic patients. Future studies should focus on engineering exosomes derived from sources such as mesenchymal stem cells to treat DM as a novel strategy.

Bridelia ferruginea Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) mitigates oxidative imbalance and lipotoxicity, with concomitant modulation of insulin signaling pathways via GLUT4 upregulation in hepatic tissues of diabetic rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bridelia ferruginea Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) is among the medicinal plants commonly used for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The hepato-therapeutic effect of the butanol fraction of Bridelia ferruginea leaves was investigated in diabetic rats.

METHODS

The butanol fraction of B. ferruginea was given to type 2 diabetic rats at both low and high doses (150 and 300 mg/kg bodyweight, respectively), while metformin and glibenclamide served as the standard anti-diabetic drugs. A normal toxicological group was administered a high dose of the fraction. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed, and their livers and psoas muscle collected. The liver was assayed for oxidative stress markers, liver glycogen content, lipid metabolite profile (using GC-MS) and their metabolic pathways were analyzed using the MetaboAnalyst 5.0 online server. The expression of GLUT4 was also assayed in the liver and muscle as well as the identification of signaling pathways associated with GLUT4 expression using the Enrichr online server. In silico molecular docking was used to investigate the molecular interactions of some postulated compound found in B. ferruginea with GLUT4. The ability of the fraction to stimulate muscle glucose uptake was determined in isolated rat psoas muscle ex vivo.

RESULTS

Treatment with the high dose of fraction caused an inhibition of lipid peroxidation as well as the elevation of catalase, SOD, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the rat liver. There was an increased expression of GLUT4 in livers and muscles of diabetic rats following treatment with B. ferruginea. Treatment with the fraction also caused inactivation of diabetes-activated pathways and changes in the distribution of the hepatic lipid metabolites. Molecular docking analysis revealed strong molecular interactions of pyrogallol and sitosterol with GLUT4.

CONCLUSIONS

These data illustrate the hepato-protective effect of B. ferruginea in diabetic rats which compare favorably with the tested anti-diabetic drugs (metformin and glibenclamide).