Oreocnide integrifolia Flavonoids Augment Reprogramming for Islet Neogenesis and β-Cell Regeneration in Pancreatectomized BALB/c Mice

Agents which can either trigger proliferation of β-cells or induce neogenesis of β-cells from precursors would be of pivotal role in reversing diabetic manifestations. We examined the role of flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) of Oreocnide integrifolia leaves using a mice model of experimental regeneration. BALB/c mice were subjected to ~70% pancreatectomy (Px) and supplemented with FRF for 7, 14, and 21 days after pancreatectomy. Px animals displayed increased blood glucose levels and decreased insulin titres which were ameliorated by FRF supplementation. FRF-treated mice demonstrated prominent newly formed islets budding off from ducts and depicting increased BrdU incorporation. Additionally, transcripts levels of Ins1/2, Reg-3α/γ, Ngn-3, and Pdx-1 were upregulated during the initial 1 week. The present study provides evidence of a nutraceutical contributing to islet neogenesis from ductal cells as the mode of β-cell regeneration and a potential therapeutic for clinical trials in management of diabetic manifestations.

Antioxidant rich flavonoids from Oreocnide integrifolia enhance glucose uptake and insulin secretion and protects pancreatic β-cells from streptozotocin insult

BACKGROUND

Insulin deficiency is the prime basis of all diabetic manifestations and agents that can bring about insulin secretion would be of pivotal significance for cure of diabetes. To test this hypothesis, we carried out bioactivity guided fractionation of Oreocnide integrifolia (Urticaceae); a folklore plant consumed for ameliorating diabetic symptoms using experimental models.

METHODS

We carried out bioassay guided fractionation using RINmF and C2C12 cell line for glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and glucose uptake potential of fractions. Further, the bioactive fraction was challenged for its GSIS in cultured mouse islets with basal (4.5 mM) and stimulated (16.7 mM) levels of glucose concentrations. The Flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) was exposed to 2 mM streptozotocin stress and the anti-ROS/RNS potential was evaluated. Additionally, the bioactive fraction was assessed for its antidiabetic and anti-apoptotic property in-vivo using multidose streptozotocin induced diabetes in BALB/c mice.

RESULTS

The results suggested FRF to be the most active fraction as assessed by GSIS in RINm5F cells and its ability for glucose uptake in C2C12 cells. FRF displayed significant potential in terms of increasing intracellular calcium and cAMP levels even in presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, IBMX in cultured pancreatic islets. FRF depicted a dose-dependent reversal of all the cytotoxic manifestations except peroxynitrite and NO formation when subjected in-vitro along with STZ. Further scrutinization of FRF for its in-vivo antidiabetic property demonstrated improved glycemic indices and decreased pancreatic β-cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the flavonoid mixture has shown to have significant insulin secretogogue, insulinomimetic and cytoprotective effects and can be evaluated for clinical trials as a therapeutant in the management of diabetic manifestations.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions in children with cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease

Eighteen cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) and 17 acyanotic congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients in the age range of 2 months to 10 years along with their age and nutrition matched controls were studied for bactericidal, chemotactic and phagocytic functions. Bactericidal and phagocytic functions were significantly depressed in CCHD (p < 0.001) as well as ACHD group (p < 0.001) compared with controls. Chemotactic function was not significantly affected in either. Arterial oxygen content (as a measure of hypoxia) was calculated for each patient and correlated with each immune parameter by univariate linear regression analysis. In CCHD patients linear correlation of borderline significance (p = 0.07) was found between arterial oxygen content and bactericidal activity, but no correlation could be established with phagocytic and chemotactic functions. No correlation was obtained between hematocrit and any of the immune parameters. In ACHD patients no correlations were obtained between the immune parameters and arterial oxygen content or hematocrit. Iron deficiency anemia, known to affect bactericidal function, did not seem to affect the immune parameters in CCHD and ACHD groups. Altered oxygen content of the blood owing to hypoxia in CCHD patients may be an important etiological factor in the genesis of bacteremia and cerebral abscess. The affection of immune functions in ACHD cannot be adequately explained.

An epidemiological study of febrile seizures with special reference to family history and HLA linkage

One hundred and forty four cases of febrile seizures, 95 simple (typical) and 49 complex (atypical); were studied and compared for clinical and epidemiological data and family history of febrile and afebrile seizures. Major results were: maximum age of onset below three years (75%) in both simple and complex groups, male preponderance, respiratory infection as the commonest etiology (69.4%) and maximum seizure onset within 24 hours of fever (73%). The familial prevalence of all seizures was 29.1%, 23.2% in the simple and 40.8% in the complex group (p < 0.01). The familial prevalence of febrile seizures was 20%; similar in both groups. The familial prevalence of afebrile seizures was 13.9%; 6.3% in simple and 28.6% in complex group (p < 0.01). The commonest relative was a sibling (13.2%). The prevalence in parents was 4%. Families with two additional members with history of seizures revealed complex seizure patterns in two-thirds of index cases. There was no correlation between family history of seizures and age at onset or sex. No clear inheritance pattern emerged and polygenic inheritance is likely. One third of eighteen families had siblings with identical segregation of parental HLA-A and B haplotypes. Five families showed the presence of HLA All. This small though adequate sample size did not reveal an HLA marker for febrile seizures.