Antioxidant and -amylase inhibition activities in vitro of various solvent extracts of Thymus schimperi Ronniger

In Vitro Antioxidant Activities of Plant Polyphenol Extracts and Their Combined Effect with Flaxseed on Raw and Cooked Breast Muscle Fatty Acid Content, Lipid Health Indices and Oxidative Stability in Slow-Growing Sasso Chickens

Adding flaxseed was found to decrease oxidative stability in feed and increase the antioxidant needs of chicken. This has also been associated with a decrease in the nutritional value and oxidative stability of meat if sufficient dietary antioxidants are not included. Furthermore, dietary flaxseed has been explored in fast-growing chickens as such studies are limited with slow-growing chickens. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding plant polyphenol extracts as an antioxidant alongside flaxseed on fatty acid content, oxidative stability, and lipid health indices in breast muscle of slow-growing Sasso T451A dual-purpose chicken. A total of 126 chickens assigned to six groups (seven replicates of three) were fed on NC (control and no antioxidants), FS (75 g flaxseed and no antioxidants), VE8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg vitamin E), TS8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg Thymus schimperi), DA8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg Dodonaea angustifolia) and CD8 (75 g flaxseed and 800 mg Curcuma domestica) extract per kg diet. Feeding on CD8 and VE8 in raw and TS8, CD8 and VE8 diets in cooked breast muscle increased (p < 0.05) the C22:6n − 3 (DHA) and C20:5n − 3 (EPA) contents compared to the FS diet. Feeding FS increased (p < 0.05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in breast muscle, whereas TS8 in cooked and raw and CD8 and DA8 diets in raw breast muscle decreased it (p < 0.05). No added benefit was observed in feeding VE8 over plant extracts in terms of improving fatty acid composition and lipid health indices and reducing lipid oxidation in breast meat.

Evaluation of Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Activity of 80% Methanolic Extract of the Root of Solanum incanum Linnaeus (Solanaceae) in Mice

Background

Conventional antidiabetic drugs are linked with a number of contraindications and untoward effects. The root decoction of Solanum incanum L. has traditionally been used to treat diabetes. However, its safety and efficacy have not been scientifically authenticated yet. Hence, the study was conducted in mice to corroborate its antidiabetic potential and safety profile.

Methods

Using normoglycemic, oral glucose-loaded, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice models, the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activities of 80% methanolic root extract were investigated. On streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, the effect of the test extract on diabetic lipid profile and body weight was also investigated. Further, the in vitro α-amylase inhibition activity was assessed.

Results

The test extract was safe at a limit test dose of 2 g/kg. Dose-dependent α-amylase inhibition activity was seen with peak percentage inhibition of 75.95% at 700 μg/mL. In normoglycemic mice, the plant extract showed statistically significant hypoglycemic activity at 200 and 400 mg/kg (P < 0.001) at 6  h and 4 and 6 h of treatment, respectively; in oral glucose-loaded mice, at both the test doses, the glucose level was also significantly dropped at 120 (P < 0.01) and 60 and 120 min (P < 0.001), respectively; whereas, in the third model, the test extract showed significant antihyperglycemic activity at 100 mg/kg (P < 0.05) on the 14^th day and at 200 (P < 0.01) and 400 mg/kg (P < 0.001) on the 7^th and 14^th day of treatment. Similarly, following repeated administration of the test extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg, the body weight was significantly improved on the 14^th day (P < 0.05) and on the 7^th and 14^th day (P < 0.01), respectively, while diabetic dyslipidemia after 14 days (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study revealed that the test extract showed promising antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity. Thus, the findings back up its use in Ethiopian remedies for diabetes.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of Aqueous Extract and Essential Oil of Thymus Serrulatus Hochst. Ex Benth

Thymus serrulatus, an endemic plant of Ethiopia, is traditionally used to cure various diseases and as a food ingredient. In the Ethiopian folk medicine, the decoction is orally taken as a remedy to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects of the aqueous extract and of the essential oil of Thymus serrulatus. The chemical composition of the aqueous extract was determined by LC-MS and the essential oil was characterized by GC-MS analysis. Radical scavenging assays, namely scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), hydroxyl (•OH), and nitric oxide (•NO), were used as a first approach to screen the potential antioxidant abilities of the samples. Alpha-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory studies were also employed to evaluate the in vitro antihyperglycemic potential of the plant. The in vivo blood glucose lowering effect of the extracts was assessed using hypoglycemic activity and the oral glucose tolerance test in normal and in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. When compared to the aqueous extract, the essential oil showed superior radical scavenging activity, particularly for •NO, as well as greater inhibitory potency against α-amylase and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.01 mg/ml and 0.11 mg/ml, respectively). Both tested samples showed a statistically significant antihyperglycemic effect. The aqueous extract at 600 mg/kg exerted maximum antihyperglycemic activity (44.14%), followed by the essential oil (30.82%). Body weight and glucose tolerance parameters were also improved by the samples both in normal and diabetic mice. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that aqueous extract and essential oil of T. serrulatus are promising therapeutic agents.

Evaluation of Antidiabetic Effect of Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Becium grandiflorum Lam. (Lamiaceae) in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

BACKGROUND

Becium grandiflorum has been used traditionally for treatment of different ailments including diabetes mellitus although it lacks scientific evidence. Thus, the present study was aimed at evaluating the antidiabetic effect of Becium grandiflorum in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.

METHODS

The antidiabetic activity of hydro-ethanolic (30:70) leaf extract of Becium grandiflorum was evaluated in STZ (45 mg/kg)-induced diabetic and normal mice. Antihyperglycemic, hypoglycemic, oral glucose tolerance and body weight change effects of the extract were assessed after administering three doses of the extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg), glibenclamide 5 mg/kg (reference drug) and 2% Tween 80 (vehicle). One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

All doses of the extract (200 mg/kg (p<0.05), 400 mg/kg (p<0.05) and 600 mg/kg (p<0.01)) and glibenclamide 5 mg/kg (p<0.001) showed statistically significant blood glucose level reduction in normal mice as compared to Tween 80. The hydroalcoholic extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg (p<0.05), 400 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 600 mg/kg (p<0.001) showed better blood glucose tolerance after 60, 120 and 180-minute treatment duration in normal mice as compared to negative control. In diabetic mice, Becium grandiflorum doses and the reference drug caused maximum reduction in blood glucose level at the end of the 15th day of treatment by 17.61%, 22.52%, 24.62% and 34.12%, respectively. The extract's doses and the standard drug showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in body weight while the diabetic control continued to lose their body weight.

CONCLUSION

Thus, Becium grandiflorum exhibits antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic mice, and shows improvement in oral glucose tolerance and body weight, which justifies the claimed use of the plant in ameliorating diabetes mellitus in Ethiopian folk medicine.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers to Treat Cancer-Like Symptoms in Eleven Districts, Ethiopia

There is no ethnobotanical study conducted specifically on medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer in Ethiopia. Yet, traditional herbalists in different parts of the country claim that they have been treating cancer-like symptoms using herbal remedies. The objective of this study was to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer-like symptoms in eleven districts, Ethiopia. Traditional herbalists were interviewed using semistructured questionnaires, and field visits were also carried out to collect claimed plants for identification purpose. Seventy-four traditional herbalists, who claimed that they knew about and/or had used medicinal plants to treat cancer-like symptoms, were selected using the snowball method and interviewed. Herbalists used their intuition and relied on the chronicity, growth of external mass, and spreading of the disease to other parts of the body, as a means to characterize cancer symptoms. Furthermore, in some of the study districts, herbalists reported that they treat patients who had already been diagnosed in modern healthcare institutions prior to seeking help from them. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific and vernacular names of the plants, their geographical location, the parts of the plants, and the methods used to prepare the remedies. A total of 53 traditionally used anticancer plants, belonging to 30 families, were identified during the survey. The most frequently reported anticancer plants were Acmella caulirhiza Del (Asteraceae), Clematis simensis Fresen. (Ranunculaceae), Croton macrostachyus Del. (Euphorbiaceae), and Dorstenia barnimiana Schweinf. (Moraceae). Organizing traditional healers, documenting their indigenous knowledge, and scientifically validating it for the development of better cancer therapeutic agents constitute an urgent and important task for policymakers and scientists.

In vivo Antidiabetic Activity Evaluation of Aqueous and 80% Methanolic Extracts of Leaves of Thymus schimperi (Lamiaceae) in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Mice

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus disorder characterized by increase in serum glucose level as a result of change in fat, protein metabolism, and carbohydrate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the aqueous and hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Thymus. schimperi on blood glucose levels.

METHODS

The aqueous and 80% methanol extracts of T. schimperi leaves were prepared. Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing 20-30 g were selected for the experiments. Mice that were made diabetic were divided into seven groups to study the antihyperglycemic effect of the extracts. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitonial injection of alloxan monohydrate (180 mg/kg body weight).

RESULTS

After diabetic mice were treated with an extract of solvent at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg for 21 days, there were significant decreases in fasting blood glucose when compared to diabetic controls. The observed antidiabetic activity could be associated with the phytochemicals present in this plant extract. The extract of solvent also prevented body weight loss of diabetic when compared to diabetic mice group. It was also observed that the extracts have shown no acute toxicity at a dose of 2 g/kg.

CONCLUSION

The aqueous and 80% methanol extracts of T. schimperi leaves have shown blood glucose level lowering effects in diabetic mice. Hence, the present study might support the traditional use of T. schimperi for diabetes mellitus treatment.