Hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and hypolipidemic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Eryngium billardieri root on nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced type II diabetic rats

Identification of the chemical profile and evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of Eryngium billardieri Delar essential oil component against bacterial species of agricultural and food interest

Studies on the antibacterial activity of the essential oil of E. billardieri are limited. In this study, we identified this herb as a natural complex effective against several bacteria by employing disk diffusion and broth microdilution susceptibility methods. Primary estimation of the antimicrobial effect of this herbal compound by disk diffusion method showed that the oil could inhibit the growth of the tested bacteria by the appearance of haloes between 8.25 and 21.25 mm. In the next step, the oil was found to be active against all 24 tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in the broth media, at minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.67 to 34.17 g L-1. Furthermore, Enterococcus faecalis and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens were the most sensitive food and plant pathogenic bacteria, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to assign the ingredients present in the oil; 34 different components representing 95.71% of the total oil were identified, with n-hexadecanoic acid being the dominant component, followed by 2-Pentadecanone, 6,10,14-trimethyl, 1H-Indene, 1-ethylideneoctahydro-, and Cinnamyl tiglate. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, a broad spectrum of the antibacterial capacity of E. billardieri. Based on these observations, the oil could be applied as a natural preservative with the potential for designing novel products. Its bioactive agents can also be isolated for further use in the food and agricultural industries.

Eryngium billardieri extract affects cardiac gene expression of master regulators of cardiomyaopathy in rats with high fatdiet-induced insulin resistance

BACKGROUND

For years, numerous studies have focused on identifying approaches to increase insulin sensitivity by modifying the signaling factors. In the present study, we examined the effects of Eryngium billardieri extract, as an anti-diabetic herbal medication, on the heart mRNA level of Akt serine/threonine kinase (Akt), mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and Forkhead box o1 (Foxo1) in rats with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR). We also assessed the anti-diabetic effects of E. billardieri extract in rats with insulin resistance.

METHODS

Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. Nine rats were fed a normal diet (control group), and 18 rats were fed an HFD for 13 weeks (HFD group). To confirm the induction of insulin resistance, the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Then rats with IR were randomly divided into the following groups: the HFD group, which continued an HFD, and the group treated with E. billardieri extract, which received the extract at a concentration of 50 mg/kg for 30 days. On the 30th day, the animals were sacrificed and serum samples were collected for biochemistry analyses. Furthermore, the expression of Akt, mTOR, PPARγ, and Foxo1 was measured in heart tissue using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

RESULTS

Real-time PCR analyses revealed that an HFD can significantly decrease the expression level of Akt, mTOR, and PPARγ in the heart tissue. However, an HFD significantly increased the expression level of Foxo1 in the HFD group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, our data showed that the administration of E. billardieri extract significantly enhanced the mRNA levels of Akt, PPARγ, and mTOR in the heart tissue compared to the HFD group (P < 0.05), while it significantly decreased the Foxo1 mRNA levels (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Given that Akt, mTOR, PPARγ, and Foxo1 are critical factors in insulin resistance, the present study suggests that E. billardieri could probably be used as an alternative treatment for IR as a major feature of metabolic syndrome.

Ethnobotany, Biological Activities and Phytochemical Compounds of Some Species of the Genus Eryngium (Apiaceae), from the Central-Western Region of Mexico

There are approximately 250 species of Eryngium L. distributed throughout the world, with North America and South America being centers of diversity on this continent. In the central-western region of Mexico there may be around 28 species of this genus. Some Eryngium species are cultivated as leafy vegetables, ornamental, and medicinal plants. In traditional medicine they are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among others. This review addresses the phytochemistry and biological activities, as well as traditional uses, distribution, and characteristics of the eight species of Eryngium reported as medicinal in the central-western region of Mexico: E. cymosum, E. longifolium, E. fluitans (or mexicanum), E. beecheyanum, E. carlinae, E. comosum, E. heterophyllum, and E. nasturtiifolium. The extracts of the different Eryngium spp. have shown biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. E. carlinae is the most studied species, and phytochemical analyses, performed mainly by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have shown its content of terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, saccharides, polyalcohols, and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. According to the results of this review on Eryngium spp., they constitute a relevant alternative as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. However, there is a lot of research to be conducted regarding phytochemistry, biological activities, cultivation, and propagation, in those species with few or no reports.

Anti-diabetic Effects of Two Species of Eryngium on Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Mice

Background: Eryngium is a genus with 274 species, which belongs to the Umbelliferae family. The nine species of this genus are endemic to Iran. The existence of terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, and steroid components in most Eryngium species is the reason behind their anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and, especially, anti-diabetic effects among the well-known medicinal plants. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of anti-diabetic features of Eryngium thyrsoideum and caucasicum on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Methods: The extract of the plants’ dried samples was prepared by using 70% ethanol solvent and adopting the maceration method. The mice were divided into eight groups, and the mice with a high blood glucose of more than 200 mg/dL were assigned to diabetic groups. Diabetic animals received different doses of the extract orally or through intraperitoneal (IP) injection for eighteen days. The animals were anesthetized by IP injection of ketamine and xylazine, and serum samples were isolated. Results: The results showed that hydroalcoholic extract of E. thyrsoideum significantly reduced the blood sugar level in diabetic groups receiving the extract (oral and IP) in low (100 mg/kg) and high (300 mg/kg) doses. Overall, oral glucose tolerance decreased significantly after two hours. Coincidental management of STZ and 300 mg/kg of the extract consumed orally reduced the blood sugar level remarkably. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum insulin levels significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in the diabetic groups receiving low and high doses (oral and IP) of the E. thyrsoideum extract. Conclusions: In sum, receiving 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract (oral and IP) decreased the blood sugar level, while receiving oral glucose tolerance, serum MDA, and serum insulin caused a significant increase.

Antidiabetic effects of Eryngium billardieri hydrosol in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Objective

Medicinal plants with fewer side effects and low cost than synthetic medicines are increasingly advised to treat diseases. The present study aimed to identify Eryngium billardieri compounds and evaluate the plant's effects on hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemia indices, and liver, and kidney function.

Materials and Methods

Following identification of Eryngium billardieri using GC/MS method, 72 participants were randomly divided into two groups (n=36 per group), receiving oral hypoglycemic medication (metformin) with or without 50 ml hydrosol twice a day for three months as intervention and placebo control, respectively. Body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Also, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels were measured to assess adverse effects on liver and kidney functions.

Results

The main components were terpenes with 46.69% of the total ingredients of E. billardieri essential oil. Other prominent compounds identified included octanoic acid (12.14 %) and isoxazole (6.72 %). Intergroup changes in blood parameters showed that E. billardieri hydrosol for three months could significantly reduce HbA1C and blood cholesterol levels but did not affect other measured parameters. Also, there were no adverse effects on kidney or liver function.

Conclusion

The present findings showed that the consumption of 50 ml of E. billardieri hydrosol as a complementary treatment in diabetic patients reduced HbA1C and cholesterol levels without adverse effects on the liver or kidneys functions.

Antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinesterase potential of Chenopodium murale L. extracts using in vitro and in vivo approaches

In this study, Chenopodium murale Linn. extracts have been evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and in vivo neuropharmacological properties in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced memory impairment in rat model. First, the plant was subjected to extraction and fractionation, then quantitative phytochemical analysis was performed to estimate the major phytochemical groups in the extract where high amounts of phenolics and saponins were detected in crude and chloroform extract. The highest total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and total tannin content were also recorded in crude extract and chloroform fraction. The in vitro antioxidant potential of chloroform fraction was high with IC50 value of 41.78 and 67.33 μg/mL against DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively, followed by ethyl acetate fraction. The chloroform fraction (ChMu-Chf) also exhibited potent activity against glucosidase with IC50 of 89.72 ± 0.88 μg/mL followed by ethyl acetate extract (ChMu-Et; IC50 of 140.20 ± 0.98 μg/mL). ChMu-Chf again exhibited potent activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC50 of 68.91 ± 0.87 μg/mL followed by ChMu-Et with IC50 of 78.57 ± 0.95 μg/mL. In vivo memory impairment was assessed using the novel object discrimination task, Y-maze, and passive avoidance task. Ex vivo antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers like catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde, and glutathione were quantified, and the AChE activity was also determined in the rat brain. No significant differences were observed amongst all the groups treated with crude, chloroform, and ethyl acetate in comparison with positive control donepezil group in connection to initial latency; whereas, the STZ diabetic group displayed a significant fall in recall and retention capability. The blood glucose level was more potently lowered by chloroform extract. The crude extract also increased the SOD level significantly in the brain of the treated rat by 8.01 ± 0.51 and 8.19 ± 0.39 units/mg at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.01, n = 6), whereas the chloroform extract increased the SOD level to 9.41 ± 0.40 and 9.72 ± 0.51 units/mg, respectively, at 75 and 150 mg/kg body weight as compared to STZ group. The acetylcholine level was also elevated to greater extent by chloroform fraction that might contain a potential inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Treatment with C. murale ameliorated cognitive dysfunction in behavioral study, and provided significant defense from neuronal oxidative stress in the brain of the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Thus C. murale Linn. could be an inspiring plant resource that needs to be further investigated for isolation of potential compounds in pure form and their evaluation as a potent neuropharmacological drug.

Eryngium Species as a Potential Ally for Treating Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

Medicinal plants possess natural compounds that can be used as an alternative for synthetic medicines that may cause long-term side effects on patients such as neurocognitive effects, muscular and hepatic toxicity. Metabolic Syndrome is associated with increased risk of several diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and hypertension thus, becoming the greatest challenge as a growing public health concern worldwide. Latin-American countries possess a wide diversity of medicinal plants that have been used to treat different health conditions since pre-Hispanic times. Eryngium spp. has been studied due to their beneficial properties mainly to treat diabetes, dyslipidemia, blood pressure, and digestive problems. This review gives an update mainly on the pharmacological activities of the Eryngium spp., summarizing the biological activities and plausible mechanism of action of their bioactive components toward metabolic syndrome. For instance, flavonoids and tannins proved to increase the levels of HDL and reduced the levels of VLDL, LDL. On the other hand, phenolic acids improved glucose metabolism through the inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and reestablished the impaired activity of enzymes related to glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis. The terpenes and sesquiterpenes like β-farnese, β-pinene, and calamenene exhibited a protective effect by reducing the oxidizing damage by the regulation of the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Saponins controlled the dyslipidemia by reducing the serum concentrations of lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Finally, the aerial parts of Eryngium had the capacity of inhibiting dietary carbohydrate digestive enzymes, thus controlling glucose levels. The Eryngium plant is normally consumed as an infusion to obtain the benefits of the plants, however novel technologies such as cavitation, ultrasound assisted, microwave assisted, and supercritical fluid have been applied to improve the extraction yields and selectivity of bioactive compounds. The common treatment to control diabetic dyslipidemia are synthetic medicines such as metformin and ezetimibe, which allows the regulation of glucose, cholesterol and insulin resistance. However, patients that take these medications may present side effects such as muscular toxicity, hepatic toxicity, neurocognitive effects, just to name a few. More studies regarding the efficacy and safety of the use of traditional medicinal herbs are required. However, these materials may be used in the treatment of diabetes related conditions to ensure life quality and reduce side effects among the diabetic population.