Effects of Securigera securidaca (L.) Degen & Dorfl seed extract combined with glibenclamide on paraoxonase1 activity, lipid profile and peroxidation, and cardiovascular risk indices in diabetic rats

The Role of Polyphenols in Modulating PON1 Activity Regarding Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis

The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases are still rising. The principal mechanism that drives them is atherosclerosis, an affection given by dyslipidemia and a pro-inflammatory state. Paraoxonase enzymes have a protective role due to their ability to contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways, especially paraoxonase 1 (PON1). PON1 binds with HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and high serum levels lead to a protective state against dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and many others. Modulating PON1 expression might be a treatment objective with significant results in limiting the prevalence of atherosclerosis. Lifestyle including diet and exercise can raise its levels, and some beneficial plants have been found to influence PON1 levels; therefore, more studies on herbal components are needed. Our purpose is to highlight the principal roles of Praoxonase 1, its implications in dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and other diseases, and to emphasize plants that can modulate PON1 expression, targeting the potential of some flavonoids that could be introduced as supplements in our diet and to validate the hypothesis that flavonoids have any effects regarding PON1 function.

Diabetes and diabesity in the view of proteomics, drug, and plant-derived remedies

Diabetes and obesity are highly prevalent in the world. Proteomics is a promising approach to better understanding enzymes, proteins, and signaling molecules involved in diabetes processes which help recognize the basis of the disease better and find suitable new treatments. This study aimed to summarize the molecular mechanisms from the beginning of insulin secretion in response to stimuli to the pathology of the insulin signaling pathway and, finally, the mechanisms of drugs/chemicals remedies that affect this process. The titles and subtitles of this process were determined, and then for each of them, the articles searched in PubMed and ScienceDirect were used. This review article starts the discussion with the molecular basis of insulin biosynthesis, secretion, insulin's mechanism of action, and molecular aspect of diabetes and diabesity (a new term showing the relation between diabetes and obesity) and ends with the drug and plant-derived intervention for hyperglycemia.

Effectiveness of Hydroalcoholic Seed Extract of Securigera securidaca on Pancreatic Local Renin-Angiotensin System and Its Alternative Pathway in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Animal Model

Background

Available data suggest inhibition of the pancreatic local-renin-angiotensin system (RAS) reduces tissue complications of diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic seed extract of Securigera securidaca (S. securidaca) (HESS) on the pancreatic local-RAS and its alternative pathway.

Methods

Three doses of HESS were orally administered to three groups of diabetic male Wistar rats, and the results were compared with both diabetic and healthy control groups. After 35 days of treatment, the groups were assessed for the levels of pancreatic local-RAS components, including renin, angiotensinogen, ACE, and Ang II, as well as ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) in the alternative pathway. The effect of herbal medicine treatment on tissue damage status was investigated by evaluating tissue levels of oxidative stress, proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and through histopathological examination of the pancreas.

Results

HESS showed a dose-dependent palliative effect on the tissue oxidative stress profile (P < 0.05) as well as the levels of pancreatic local-RAS components (P < 0.05), compared to diabetic control group. Considering the interrelationship between tissue oxidative stress and local-RAS activity, the moderating effect of HESS on this relationship could be attributed to the increase in total tissue antioxidant capacity (TAC) and pancreatic Ang-(1-7) concentration. Decrease in local-RAS activity was associated with decrease in the tissue levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL1, IL6, and TNFα) (P < 0.05) and increase in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine of IL-10 (P < 0.05). In addition, histological results were consistent with tissue biochemical results.

Conclusions

Due to the reduction of local pancreatic RAS activity as well as oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines following treatment with HESS, S. securidaca seed can be proposed as a suitable herbal supplement in the drug-treatment of diabetes.

Antioxidative hypoglycemic herbal medicines with in vivo and in vitro activity against C-reactive protein; a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Inflammation is a double-edged sword in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The global rise in the prevalence of T2DM in one hand, and poor disease control with currently-available treatments on the other hand, along with an increased tendency towards the use of natural products make scientists seek herbal medicines for the management of diabetes and its complications by reducing C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammatory marker.

PURPOSE

To systematically review the literature to identify the efficacy of various medicinal plants with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties considering their effect on CRP in animal models of T2DM.

STUDY DESIGN

systematic review.

METHODS

Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochran Library were searched using the search terms "herbal medicine", "diabetes", "c-reactive protein", "antioxidants" till August 2021. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE's) tool. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO with an ID number CRD42020207190. A manual search to detect any articles not found in the databases was also made. The identified studies were then critically reviewed and relevant data were extracted and summarized.

RESULTS

Among total of 9904 primarily-retrieved articles, twenty-three experimental studies were finally included. Our data indicated that numerous herbal medicines, compared to placebo or hypoglycemic medications, are effective in treatment of diabetes and its complications through decreasing CRP concentrations and oxidative stresses levels. Medicinal plants including Psidium guajava L., Punica granatum L., Ginkgo biloba L., Punica granatum L., Dianthus superbusn L.. Moreover, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Curcuma longa L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Morus alba L., and Ficus racemosa L. demonstrated potential neuroprotective effects in animal models of diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Hypoglycemic medicinal plants discussed in this review seem to be promising regulators of CRP, and oxidative stress. Thus, these plants are suitable candidates for management of diabetes' complications. Nevertheless, further high-quality in vivo studies and clinical trials are required to confirm these effects.

Phytochemicals as Modulators of Paraoxonase-1 in Health and Diseases

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), atherosclerosis, chronic liver disease, and neurodegenerative diseases are major causes of mortality. These diseases have gained much attention due to their complications, and therefore novel approaches with fewer side effects are an important research topic. Free radicals and oxidative stress are involved in the molecular mechanisms of several diseases. Antioxidants can scavenge free radicals and mitigate their adverse effects. One of the most important antioxidant enzymes are paraoxonases (PONs). These enzymes perform a wide range of physiological activities ranging from drug metabolism to detoxification of neuroleptics. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is produced in the liver and then transferred to the bloodstream. It has been demonstrated that PON1 could have beneficial effects in numerous diseases such as atherosclerosis, CVD, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative diseases by modulating relevant signalling pathways involved in inflammation and oxidative stress. These pathways include peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and protein kinase B/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (AKT/NF-κB)-dependent signalling pathways. Increasing PON1 could potentially have protective effects and reduce the incidence of various diseases by modulating these signalling pathways. Several studies have reported that dietary factors are able to modulate PON1 expression and activity. This review aimed at summarizing the state of the art on the effects of dietary phytochemicals on PON1 enzyme activity and the relevant signalling pathways in different diseases.

The Protective Effects of Securigera securidaca Seed Extract on Liver Injury Induced by Bile Duct Ligation in Rats

This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of Securigera securidaca (SS) seed extract on cholestatic liver injury induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats. Total polyphenols and flavonoids in SS seed extract were determined using a colorimetric assay, and their components were quantified using HPLC. Rats in four groups underwent BDL at the common bile duct and were treated for 21 days with either oral distilled water as vehicle, vitamin C, 100 mg/kg SS seed extract, or 200 mg/kg SS seed extract. Rats in the fifth group underwent abdominal incision without BDL and were treated with distilled water, and rats in the sixth group were healthy and received nothing. Finally, rats were sacrificed, blood samples were analyzed through biochemical methods, liver tissues were histologically assessed, and the expression of the TGFβ-1, iNOS, caspase-3, and α-SMA genes in the liver was assessed through real-time PCR. BDL significantly increased, and SS seed extract significantly decreased the serum levels of bilirubin and liver function enzymes. Moreover, SS seed extract suppressed the expression of the TGFβ-1, iNOS, caspase-3, and α-SMA genes, reduced the levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl, and increased the levels of glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, and SOD and catalase enzyme activity in the serum and liver. Extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg had significant positive effects on liver morphology and parenchyma structure in a dose-dependent manner.

Evaluation of testicular glycogen storage, FGF21 and LDH expression and physiological parameters of sperm in hyperglycemic rats treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Securigera Securidaca seeds, and Glibenclamide

Structural and physiological changes in sperm and semen parameters reduce fertility in diabetic patients. Securigera Securidaca (S. Securidaca) seed is a herbal medicine with hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-hypertensive effects. The question now is whether this herbal medicine improves fertility in diabetic males. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of S. Securidaca seeds (HESS), glibenclamide and a combination of both on fertility in hyperglycemic rats by comparing histological and some biochemical changes in testicular tissue and sperm parameters. The treatment protocol included administration of three doses of HESS and one dose of glibenclamide, as well as treatment with both in diabetic Wistar diabetic rats and comparison of the results with untrated groups. The quality of the testicular tissue as well as histometric parameters and spermatogenesis indices were evaluated during histopathological examination. Epididymal sperm analysis including sperm motility, viability, abnormalities, maturity, and chromatin structure were studied. The effect of HESS on the expression of LDH and FGF21 genes and tissue levels of glycogen, lactate, and total antioxidant capacity in testicular tissue was investigated and compared with glibenclamide. HESS improved sperm parameters in diabetic rats but showed little restorative effect on damaged testicular tissue. In this regard, glibenclamide was more effective than the highest dose of HESS and its combination with HESS enhanced its effectiveness so that histological tissue characteristics and sperm parameters were were comparable to those of healthy rats. The expression level of testicular FGF21 gene increased in diabetic rats, which intensified after treatment with HESS as well as glibenclamide. The combination of HESS and glibenclamide restored the expression level of testicular LDH gene, as well as tissue storage of glycogen, lactate and LDH activity, and serum testosterone to the levels near healthy control. S. Securidaca seeds can be considered as an effective supplement in combination with hypoglycemic drugs to prevent infertility complications in diabetes.

Complex Coronary Instent Chronic Total Occlusion Lesions: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Coronary Stent Lengths

The oxidative stress and inflammation played the key roles in the development of atherosclerotic coronary plaques. However, the relationships between pro/antioxidant, pro/anti-inflammatory status, and complex coronary instent chronic total occlusion lesions were not clear in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations. We tried to evaluate the roles of pro/antioxidant and pro/anti-inflammatory biomarkers in the diagnosis of complex reocclusion lesions in elderly patients after coronary stenting. We evaluated the expression levels of acrolein (ACR), malondialdehyde (MDA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations and complex reocclusion lesions. Levels of ACR, MDA, hs-CRP, and TNF-α were remarkably increased (P < 0.001), and levels of SOD3, PON-1, eNOS, and SDF-1α were decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in the elderly patients with very long stents and complex reocclusion lesions. The prooxidant and proinflammatory biomarkers were remarkably increased, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biomarkers were decreased significantly in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations and complex reocclusion lesions after coronary stenting. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the imbalance between prooxidant/proinflammatory and antioxidant/anti-inflammatory status was associated with complex reocclusion lesions, suggesting that oxidative stress and inflammation played the key roles in progression of complex reocclusion lesions in the elderly patients with very long stent implantations.