Medicinal plants of Southeast Asia with anti-α-glucosidase activity as potential source for Type-2 diabetes mellitus treatment

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes mellitus, a widespread chronic illness, affects millions worldwide, and its incidence is increasing alarmingly, especially in developing nations. Current pharmacological treatments can be costly and have undesirable side effects. To address this, medicinal plants with antidiabetic effects, particularly targeting α-glucosidase for controlling hyperglycaemia in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hold promise for drug development with reduced toxicity and adverse reactions.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aims to succinctly collect information about medicinal plant extracts that exhibit antidiabetic potential through α-glucosidase inhibition using acarbose as a standard reference in Southeast Asia. The characteristics of this inhibition are based on in vitro studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information on medicinal plants in Southeast Asia, along with α-glucosidase inhibition studies using acarbose as a positive control, was gathered from various scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

About 46 papers were found from specific counties in Southeast Asia demonstrated notable α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of their medicinal plants, with several plant extracts showcasing activity comparable to or surpassing that of acarbose. Notably, 19 active constituents were identified for their α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the antidiabetic potential of the tested medicinal plant extracts, indicating their promise as alternative treatments for T2DM. This review can aid in the development of potent therapeutic medicines with increased effectiveness and safety for the treatment of T2DM.

The oral administration of Lotus corniculatus L. attenuates acute and chronic pain models in male rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lotus corniculatus L. (Fabaceae) traditionally used in Persian folk medicine to heal peritoneal inflammation and back pain.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the antinociceptive (acute pain) and anti-neuropathic (chronic pain) activities of Lotus corniculatus leaves essential oil (LCEO) in addition to uncovering the possible mechanisms of antinociception.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LCEO as well as the pure oleanolic acid (OA) compound, were assayed for their effects on acute (formalin induced paw licking test or FIPT) and chronic (cervical contusion injury models on the fifth cervical vertebra or CCS; 14-day intervals) pain. The possible involvements of NO-cGMP-K+ channel, TRPV, dopamine, cannabinoid, PPAR, adrenergic, and opioid mechanisms in the antinociceptive activity of LCEO have studied by formalin test. The levels of p53 and inflammatory markers were measured using a streptavidin biotin immune peroxidase complex and ELISA methods, respectively.

RESULTS

The LCEO and OA exerted antinociceptive activity in the first-phase of FIPT. Pretreatment with antagonists of TRPV1, dopamine D2, cannabinoid type1 and 2, and NO-cGMP-K+ channel blockers (glibenclamide, L-NAME and methylene blue) attenuated the antinociceptive effect of LCEO in FIPT. In addition, LCEO and OA meaningfully reduced hyperalgesia (days 6-14) and mechanical allodynia (days 2-14) in the CCS model. LCEO suppressed the apoptotic marker (p53) in CCS model and also ameliorated IL-2, TNF-α, and IL-1 in the spinal cord.

CONCLUSION

Finally, LCEO inhibited acute (possibly via the modulation of opioid, TRPV, dopamine, cannabinoid mechanisms as well as NO-cGMP-K+ channel) and chronic pain (via suppressing apoptotic and inflammatory markers) in male rats. The results also suggest that OA has analgesic activity against acute and chronic pain conditions.

Effects of Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss. leaves essential oil in inflammatory and neuropathic pain: uncovering the possible mechanism of action

BACKGROUND

Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss. (popularly known as "Jafari farangi kohestani") is a predominant medicinal plant traditionally utilized in the treatments of peritoneal inflammation and headache in Persian folk medicine. Here, we have revealed the anti-neuropathic and anti-nociceptive activities of C. macropodum leaves essential oil (CMEO) in addition to uncovering the possible mechanisms of action.

METHODS

Formalin-induced paw licking model was used to assess the anti-nociceptive activity of CMEO and its major constituent, terpinolene (TP). The anti-nociceptive activity of these compounds was determined by investigating the roles of various non-opioid and NO-cGMP-K+ channels. Additionally, the anti-neuropathic potential of CMEO and TP was determined using cervical spinal cord contusion/CCS technique.

RESULTS

The CMEO exerted significant anti-nociceptive activity with a remarkable activity seen in the second phase of formalin-induced paw licking model and this activity were remarkably reversed by pre-treatment of naloxone (an opioid antagonist). Pretreatment with several types of NO-cGMP-potassium channel pathway meaningfully reversed the anti-nociceptive potential of CMEO in phase II of formalin model. Moreover, pre-treatment with several antagonists of non-opioid receptors revealed that only the antagonist of TRPV-1, serotonin type 3, 5-HT2, α2 adrenergic, and CB1 receptors (capsaicin, ondansetron, ketanserin, yohimbine, and SR141716A, respectively) reversed CMEO anti-nociception. CMEO and TP also remarkably reversed hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in the CCS technique.

CONCLUSION

The CMEO exerts anti-nociceptive and anti-neuropathic activities via the modulation of NO-cGMP potassium channel pathway, opioid as well as several non-opioid receptor activity. TP might partly contribute to the observed activities of CMEO.

Cardioprotective effects of arjunolic acid in LPS-stimulated H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes via the My88-dependent TLR4 signaling pathway

CONTEXT

Arjunolic acid (AA) is a triterpenoid saponin found in Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (Combretaceae). It exerts cardiovascular protective effects as a phytomedicine. However, it is unclear how AA exerts the effects at the molecular level.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of arjunolic acid (AA) via MyD88-dependant TLR4 downstream signaling marker expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The MTT viability assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of AA. LPS induced in vitro cardiovascular disease model was developed in H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes. The treatment groups were designed such as control (untreated), LPS control, positive control (LPS + pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)-25 µM), and treatment groups were co-treated with LPS and three concentrations of AA (50, 75, and 100 µM) for 24 h. The changes in the expression of TLR4 downstream signaling markers were evaluated through High Content Screening (HCS) and Western Blot (WB) analysis.

RESULTS

After 24 h of co-treatment, the expression of TLR4, MyD88, MAPK, JNK, and NF-κB markers were upregulated significantly (2-6 times) in the LPS-treated groups compared to the untreated control in both HCS and WB experiments. Evidently, the HCS analysis revealed that MyD88, NF-κB, p38, and JNK were significantly downregulated in the H9C2 myotube in the AA treated groups. In HCS, the expression of NF-κB was downregulated in C2C12. Additionally, TLR4 expression was downregulated in both H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes in the WB experiment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

TLR4 marker expression in H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes was subsequently decreased by AA treatment, suggesting possible cardioprotective effects of AA.

Liver protective effect of chloroform extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves is attributed partly to its antioxidant action and the presence of flavonoids

CONTEXT

Bauhinia purpurea L. (Fabaceae) is used in the Ayurvedic system to treat various oxidative-related ailments (e.g., wounds, ulcers etc.). Therefore, it is believed that the plant also has the potential to alleviate oxidative-related liver damage.

OBJECTIVE

This study elucidates the hepatoprotective activity of chloroform extract of B. purpurea leaves (CEBP) in paracetamol (PCM)-induced liver injury (PILI) rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) were pre-treated once daily (p.o.) with CEBP (50-500 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days before being administered (p.o.) a hepatotoxic agent, 3 g/kg PCM. Liver enzyme levels were determined from the collected blood, while the collected liver was used to determine the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and for histopathological examination. CEBP was also subjected to radical scavenging assays and phytochemical analysis.

RESULTS

CEBP significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the toxic effect of PCM by increasing the serum levels of AST and ALT, and the activity of endogenous catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) while reducing the liver weight/body weight (LW/BW) ratio. Other than low TPC value and radical scavenging activity, CEBP had a high antioxidant capacity when evaluated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis of CEBP showed the presence of flavonoids.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

CEBP exerts its hepatoprotective activity through a non-free radical scavenging pathway that involves activation of the endogenous enzymatic antioxidant defense system. Further study is needed to identify the responsible bioactive compounds before the plant can be developed as a future alternative hepatoprotective medicament for clinical use.

Peptide-Based Vaccine against Breast Cancer: Recent Advances and Prospects

Breast cancer is considered the second-leading cancer after lung cancer and is the most prevalent cancer among women globally. Currently, cancer immunotherapy via vaccine has gained great attention due to specific and targeted immune cell activity that creates a potent immune response, thus providing long-lasting protection against the disease. Despite peptides being very susceptible to enzymatic degradation and poor immunogenicity, they can be easily customized with selected epitopes to induce a specific immune response and particulate with carriers to improve their delivery and thus overcome their weaknesses. With advances in nanotechnology, the peptide-based vaccine could incorporate other components, thereby modulating the immune system response against breast cancer. Considering that peptide-based vaccines seem to show remarkably promising outcomes against cancer, this review focuses on and provides a specific view of peptide-based vaccines used against breast cancer. Here, we discuss the benefits associated with a peptide-based vaccine, which can be a mainstay in the prevention and recurrence of breast cancer. Additionally, we also report the results of recent trials as well as plausible prospects for nanotechnology against breast cancer.

Transcriptomics-driven drug repositioning for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common complication of diabetes and can lead to severe disability and even amputation. Despite advances in treatment, there is currently no cure for DFUs and available drugs for treatment are limited. This study aimed to identify new candidate drugs and repurpose existing drugs to treat DFUs based on transcriptomics analysis. A total of 31 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and used to prioritize the biological risk genes for DFUs. Further investigation using the database DGIdb revealed 12 druggable target genes among 50 biological DFU risk genes, corresponding to 31 drugs. Interestingly, we highlighted that two drugs (urokinase and lidocaine) are under clinical investigation for DFU and 29 drugs are potential candidates to be repurposed for DFU therapy. The top 5 potential biomarkers for DFU from our findings are IL6ST, CXCL9, IL1R1, CXCR2, and IL10. This study highlights IL1R1 as a highly promising biomarker for DFU due to its high systemic score in functional annotations, that can be targeted with an existing drug, Anakinra. Our study proposed that the integration of transcriptomic and bioinformatic-based approaches has the potential to drive drug repurposing for DFUs. Further research will further examine the mechanisms by which targeting IL1R1 can be used to treat DFU.

The role of lutein-rich purple sweet potato leaf extract on the amelioration of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin-induced Sprague-Dawley rats

The objective of this study is to access the effect of purple sweet potato leaf (PSPL) extract on diabetic retinopathy (DR) of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In this study, rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 60 mg/kg STZ, and diabetes was confirmed on day 7. Rats were further divided into a few groups, which were then orally administered with one of the following treatments: 25 mg/kg of gliclazide (D25G), 200 mg/kg of PSPL extract (DT 200), and 400 mg/kg of PSPL extract (DT 400). However, the normal control (NS) and control group for diabetic (DNS) were given normal saline (NS) for 12 weeks. The results show that the treated group demonstrated a reduction in serum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) levels of DT 200 and DT 400, and an increase in the serum and retinal insulin levels, and restored oxidative stress markers in serum and retina on week 12. The PSPL extract exhibited protective effects in maintaining the kidney, liver, retina, and pancreas architecture in 400 mg/kg compared to the 200 mg/kg treated group and D25G, thereby restoring fully transparent lenses in diabetes-induced rats. In conclusion, 400 mg/kg PSPL is the most effective dose for the amelioration of STZ-induced DR pathology in male SD rats.

Remodulation Effect of Elateriospermum tapos Yoghurt on Metabolic Profile of Maternal Obesity Induced Cognitive Dysfunction and Anxiety-like Behavior in Female Offspring-An In Vivo Trial on Sprague Dawley Rats

Pre-pregnancy weight gain induces dysregulation in the metabolic profile of the offspring, thereby serving as a key factor for cognitive decline and anxiety status in the offspring. However, early probiotic supplementation during the gestational period is linked with improved metabolic health. At the same time, a natural plant known as Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) is proven to improve cognition and modulate the stress hormone due to its high concentration of flavonoids. However, the effects of medicinal plant integrated probiotics in F1 generations warrants further investigation. Thus, this study aimed to study the effect of E. tapos yoghurt on the maternal obesity induced cognitive dysfunction and anxiety in female offspring. In this study, female Sprague Dawley rats were fed with normal chow (n = 8) or high fat diet (n = 40) across pre-pregnancy, gestation, and weaning. The treatment with different concentrations of E. tapos yoghurt (5, 50, and 500 mg/kg/day) were initiated in the obese dams upon post coitum day 0 up to postnatal day 21 (PND 21). Female offspring were weaned on PND 21 and body mass index, waist circumference, lee index, behavior, metabolic parameter, and antioxidant status were analyzed. The result shows that the female offspring of the 500 mg/kg E. tapos yoghurt supplemented group shows a decreased level of insulin, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, low fat tissue mass with a high level of HDL, and an increased level of antioxidant status in the hypothalamus. The behavioral assessment proves that the female offspring of the 500 mg/kg E. tapos yoghurt supplemented group exhibits a high recognition index on novel object/place with low anxiety-like behavior in an open field test. In conclusion, our data signify the beneficial effect of early intervention in obese dams on the transgenerational impact on female offspring's metabolic profile, cognitive performance, and anxiety-like behavior.

Phytochemical component and toxicological evaluation of purple sweet potato leaf extract in male Sprague–Dawley rats

This study assessed the toxicity of lutein-rich purple sweet potato leaf (PSPL) extract in male Sprague–Dawley rats.

Methods and study design: A total of 54 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were used. For the acute toxicity study, three rats in the acute control group were fed 2,000 mg/kg of PSPL for 14 days. The subacute toxicity study included six rats each in four groups administered 50, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg for 28 days and observed for further 14 days without treatment in the subacute control and subacute satellite groups. Changes in body weight; blood biochemistry; hematological parameters; relative organ weight; and histological sections of the heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, aorta, and retina were observed for signs of toxicity.

Results: The gradual increase in weekly body weight, normal level full blood count, normal liver and kidney profile, relative organ weight, and histological sections of all stained organ tissue in the treated group compared with the acute, subacute, and satellite control groups demonstrated the absence of signs of toxicity.

Conclusion: Lutein-rich PSPL extract shows no signs of toxicity up to 2,000 mg/kg/day.

The Potential Chemopreventive Effect of Andrographis paniculata on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine and High-Fat-Diet-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is responsible for a notable rise in the overall mortality rate. Obesity is found to be one of the main factors behind CRC development. Andrographis paniculata is a herbaceous plant famous for its medicinal properties, particularly in Southeast Asia for its anti-cancer properties. This study examines the chemopreventive impact of A. paniculata ethanolic extract (APEE) against a high-fat diet and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in Sprague Dawley rats. Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p. once a week for 10 weeks) and a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks to induce colorectal cancer. APEE was administered at 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg for 20 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood serum and organs were collected. DMH/HFD-induced rats had abnormal crypts and more aberrant crypt foci (ACF). APEE at a dose of 500 mg/kg improved the dysplastic state of the colon tissue and caused a 32% reduction in the total ACF. HFD increased adipocyte cell size, while 500 mg/kg APEE reduced it. HFD and DMH/HFD rats had elevated serum insulin and leptin levels. Moreover, UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed that APEE was rich in anti-cancer phytochemicals. This finding suggests that APEE has anti-cancer potential against HFD/DMH-induced CRC and anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity properties.

Elateriospermum tapos Yogurt Supplement in Maternal Obese Dams during Pregnancy Modulates the Body Composition of F1 Generation

Maternal obesity is a key predictor of childhood obesity and a determining factor for a child's body composition. Thus, any form of maternal nutrition during the gestational period plays a vital role in influencing the growth of the fetus. Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) yogurt has been found to comprise many bioactive compounds such as tannins, saponins, α-linolenic acid, and 5'-methoxy-bilobate with apocynoside I that could cross the placenta and exhibit an anti-obesity effect. As such, this study aimed to investigate the role of maternal E. tapos yogurt supplementation on offspring body composition. In this study, 48 female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were induced with obesity using a high-fat diet (HFD) and were allowed to breed. Upon confirmation of pregnancy, treatment was initiated with E. tapos yogurt on the obese dams up to postnatal day 21. The weaning offspring were then designated into six groups according to their dam's group (n = 8) as follows; normal food and saline (NS), HFD and saline (HS), HFD and yogurt (HY), HFD and 5 mg/kg of E. tapos yogurt (HYT5), HFD and 50 mg/kg of E. tapos yogurt (HYT50), and HFD and 500 mg/kg of E. tapos yogurt (HYT500). The body weight of the offspring was accessed every 3 days up to PND 21. All the offspring were euthanized on PND 21 for tissue harvesting and blood sample collection. The results showed that both male and female offspring of obese dams treated with E. tapos yogurt showed growth patterns similar to NS and reduced levels of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, LDL, non-HDL, and leptin. Liver enzymes such as ALT, ALP, AST, GGT, and globulin, and renal markers such as sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, and creatinine levels significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the offspring of E. tapos yogurt-treated obese dams with the normal histological architecture of the liver, kidney, colon, RpWAT, and visceral tissue that is comparable to NS. In toto, E. tapos yogurt supplementation of obese dams exerted an anti-obesity effect by preventing intergenerational obesity by reversing HFD-induced damage in the fat tissue of the offspring.

Virtual screening of bioactive anti-SARS-CoV natural products and identification of 3β,12-diacetoxyabieta-6,8,11,13-tetraene as a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its infection related pathways by MD simulation and network pharmacology

Since the first prevalence of COVID-19 in 2019, it still remains the most devastating pandemic throughout the world. The current research aimed to find potential natural products to inhibit the novel coronavirus and associated infection by MD simulation and network pharmacology approach. Molecular docking was performed for 39 natural products having potent anti-SARS-CoV activity. Five natural products showed high binding interaction with the viral main protease for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, where 3β,12-diacetoxyabieta-6,8,11,13 tetraene showed stable binding in MD simulation until 100 ns. Both 3β,12-diacetoxyabieta-6,8,11,13 tetraene and tomentin A targeted 11 common genes that are related to COVID-19 and interact with each other. Gene ontology development analysis further showed that all these 11 genes are attached to various biological processes. The KEGG pathway analysis also showed that the proteins that are targeted by 3β,12-diacetoxyabieta-6,8,11,13 tetraene and tomentin A are associated with multiple pathways related to COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, the ADMET and MDS studies reveals 3β,12-diacetoxyabieta-6,8,11,13 as the best-suited compound for oral drug delivery.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Insight into the possible mechanism(s) involved in the antinociceptive and antineuropathic activity of Descurainia sophia L. Webb ex Prantl essential oil

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Descurainia sophia (L.)(Brassicaceae), popularly known as "Khaksheer", is a native species widely distributed in Iran. The seeds and essential oil has been used in local traditional medicine (Persian folk ethnomedicine) to treat fever, inflammation, back pain, and headache.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate in vitro anti-nociceptive and antineuropathic activities of Descurainia sophia seeds essential oil (DSEO) in rats and to determine the possible mechanism(s) involved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antinociceptive activity of DSEO or Linolenic acid (LA) was evaluated using the formalin induced paw licking test followed by determination on the role of NO-cGMP-K+ channel pathway as well as a number of non-opioid receptor systems (vanilloid, dopamine, cannabinoid, serotonin, peroxisome proliferator activated, and adrenergic receptors) in the modulation of DSEO-induced antinociceptive activity. Additionally, the cervical spinal cord contusion (CCS) model was used to study antineuropathic potential of DSEO or LA.

RESULTS

DSEO exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in formalin test (both phases) and altered mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia observed in the CCS model. Pretreatment with glibenclamide, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, tranilast, methylene blue, SCH23390, SR141716A and SR144528 restored DSEO-induced antinociceptive activity observed in the formalin test. Furthermore, LA also reduced nociceptive responses induced in the formalin and CCS models.

CONCLUSION

DSEO inhibits inflammatory mediated nociceptive response partly via the modulation of NO-cGMP-K+ channels pathway well as the activation of vanilloid, dopamine, and cannabinoid receptors, and exerts antineuropathic activity possibly via the modulation of inflammatory mediated activity. Thus, these findings confirm the Persian ethno-medicine claim on the efficacy of D. Sophia.

Antimicrobial Secondary Metabolites from the Mangrove Plants of Asia and the Pacific

Microbes such as the White Spot Syndrome Virus account for severe losses in the shrimp farming industry globally. This review examines the literature on the mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral activities. All of the available data published on this subject were collected from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and a library search from 1968 to 2022. Out of about 286 plant species, 119 exhibited antimicrobial effects, and a total of 114 antimicrobial natural products have been identified including 12 with MIC values below 1 µg/mL. Most of these plants are medicinal. The mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific yield secondary metabolites with the potential to mitigate infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture.

Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Leaves Ethanol Extract Increases Endogenous Antioxidant Activities in Hyperlipidemic Rats

Consumption of high-fat foods can induce the formation of free radicals and trigger oxidative stress. The leave of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) has been reported to be a potent antioxidant in vitro. This study investigates the effect of ethanol extract of purple sweet potato leaves on the endogenous antioxidant activity in hyperlipidemic rats. The sweet potato leaves were oven-dried and extracted using 70% ethanol in a ratio of 1:7 w/v for 24 h, followed by vacuum evaporation. The five groups of test animals were created: normal control-which was given a standard diet, negative control (high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 days), and three treated groups which treated with HFD for 14 days and start for the same time treated with sweet potato leaves extract (SPLE) at the doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW for 28 days. The antioxidant activity was measured from liver homogenate on the 29th day. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were quantified using spectrophotometry. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis found rutin as a major chemical content of the SPLE. HFD significantly (p<0.05) decreased the activity of endogenous antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px) and increased the MDA level significantly (p<0.05) compared with the normal group. On the contrary, the treatment with the SPLE significantly (p<0.05) increased the activity of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and lowered MDA levels significantly (p<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner compared to the negative control. SPLE increase the activities of endogenous enzymatic antioxidants in hyperlipidemic rats.

Flavonoids as dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX): molecular docking and in vitro studies

Background

Inflammation is known to involve in many pathological processes of different diseases, but the current therapy causes adverse effects. Thus, there is a great interest for the discovery of flavonoids as a valuable alternative to classical analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent with dual-inhibitory action, especially on both COX-2 and 5-LOX which can minimize or overcome this problem.

Results

In the present work, drug-likeness properties of the synthesized flavonoids via Lipinski’s Rule of Five were predicted using QikProp prior to evaluation of their COX and LOX inhibitory activities using enzyme assays. Subsequently, molecular docking was performed using GLIDE to analyse their binding behaviour. The results showed that all compounds obeyed the Lipinski’s Rule of Five. NPC6 and NPC7 had displayed better selectivity towards COX-2 as compared to Indomethacin with less than 50% inhibition against COX-1. In addition, these compounds also inhibited activity of 5-LOX. Their selectivity to COX-2 was due to the binding to hydrophobic region and extends to lobby region near the entrance of COX binding site forming hydrogen bond with Ser530. Interestingly, these compounds showed a similar binding mode as Zileuton in the active site of 5-LOX and formed hydrogen bond interaction with Ala424.

Conclusion

NPC6 and NPC7 had potential as dual inhibitor of COX-2 and 5-LOX. The scaffolds of these chemical entities are useful to be as lead compounds for the dual inhibition of COX-2 and 5-LOX.

Determinants of COVID-19 Prevention Equipment Readiness in Families during Pandemic in Indonesia

Indonesia was the country with the second-highest case of COVID-19 in the South East Asia Region (SEAR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) data until August 1, 2021. As an infectious disease, the high level of COVID-19 rate transmission requires everyone always to prepare a prevention tools kit to minimize the risk of coronavirus exposure. This study aimed to analyze the determinant factors of readiness of the COVID-19 prevention tools kit. This study used a cross-sectional design with a mix-method technique because data collection and analysis combine quantitative and qualitative approaches in several phases of the research process. Data collected from 18 representative provinces in Indonesia with a total of respondents involved were 2,196 people. The Binary Logistic Regression tests were used to analyze the variable correlation. The multivariable analytic showed that the determinant factors with a significant correlation which affected the readiness of COVID-19 prevention tools kit in each family during pandemic in Indonesia were age 37-46 years old (p=0.000; odds ratio=8.039), female gender (p=0.000; odds ratio=8.653), self-employed jobs (p=0.028; odds ratio=2.239), income > 5 million per month (p=0.000; odds ratio=7.267), good knowledge (p=0.000; odds ratio=3.311), and good perception (p=0.001; odds ratio=2.015). The supply of tools and medicines to prevent COVID-19 is indispensable during the pandemic to protect against COVID-19 infection. Masks and hand sanitizers become the main kits most individuals have, especially when doing outside home activities. At the same time, the oximeter becomes the least kit in the family. This preparation also teaches citizens to practice a healthy lifestyle. Cross-sector coordination is needed to improve public awareness of COVID-19 prevention equipment.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Alocasia Species: A Systematic Review

The genus Alocasia (Schott) G. Don consists of 113 species distributed across Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Alocasia plants grow in tropical and subtropical forests with humid lowlands. Featuring their large green heart-shaped or arrow-shaped ear leaves and occasionally red-orange fruit, they are very popular ornamental plants and are widely used as traditional medicines to treat various diseases such as jaundice, snake bite, boils, and diabetes. This manuscript critically analysed the distribution, traditional uses, and phytochemical contents of 96 species of Alocasia. The numerous biological activities of Alocasia species were also presented, which include anti-cancer, antidiabetic and antihyperglycaemic, antioxidant, antidiarrhoea, antimicrobial and antifungal, antiparasitic (antiprotozoal and anthelminthic), antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, brine shrimp lethality, hepatoprotective, anti-hemagglutinin, anti-constipation and diuretic, and radioprotective activities as well as acute toxicity studies. Research articles were acquired by the accessing three scientific databases comprising PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. For this review, specific information was obtained using the general search term "Alocasia", followed by the "plant species names" and "phytochemical" or "bioactivity" or "pharmacological activity". The accepted authority of the plant species was referred from theplantlist.org. Scientific studies have revealed that the genus is mainly scattered throughout Asia. It has broad traditional benefits, which have been associated with various biological properties such as cytotoxic, antihyperglycaemic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Alocasia species exhibit diverse biological activities that are very useful for medical treatment. The genus Alocasia was reported to be able to produce a strong and high-quality anti-cancer compound, namely alocasgenoside B, although information on this compound is currently limited. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to further explore the relevant use of natural compounds present in the genus Alocasia, particularly as an anti-cancer agent. With only a few Alocasia species that have been scientifically studied so far, more attention and effort is required to establish the link between traditional uses, active compounds, and pharmacological activities of various species of this genus.

Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Picrasma javanica: Quassinoids Interest

Picrasma javanica Blume is a plant belonging to Simaroubaceae. It is known for its secondary metabolites, namely quassinoids, offering various pharmacological properties including antitumor, antimalarial, and antiviral. The plant is traditionally used as a source medicine for different diseases in Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Despite the extensive studies on P. javanica, there is no concise and conclusive information regarding the phytochemical and phytochemistry of the plant has been reported. Thus, we aimed to discern the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of P. javanica. The phytochemical constituents and pharmacological benefits of P. javanica were reviewed and supported from previous in vivo and in vitro studies. The literature used in this review were retrieved from electronic database such as Scopus, Semanticscholar, Sciendirect, Google scholar, Researchgate, Pubmed, and websites. P. javanica possesses several phytochemical constituents, such as quassinoids, alkaloids, and triterpenoids. The compounds of the plant have been isolated and studied for their pharmacological activities, encompassing antimalarial, antiproliferative, antiviral, antimicrobial, and membrane-stabilizing activities. It was found that the pharmacological activities in the plant were attributable to the key ingredients of quassinoids and alkaloids present. However, further extensive studies must be carried out to explore more potential benefits that the plant could offer.

Antibacterial Effects of Flavonoids and Their Structure-Activity Relationship Study: A Comparative Interpretation

According to the latest report released by the World Health Organization, bacterial resistance to well-known and widely available antibacterial drugs has become a significant and severe global health concern and a grim challenge to tackle in order to cure infections associated with multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms efficiently. Consequently, various strategies have been orchestrated to cure the severe complications related to multidrug-resistant bacteria effectively. Some approaches involved the retardation of biofilm formation and multidrug-resistance pumps in bacteria as well as the discovery of new antimicrobial agents demonstrating different mechanisms of action. In this regard, natural products namely alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, etc., have been suggested to tackle the multidrug-resistant bacterial strains owing to their versatile pharmacological effects. Amongst these, flavonoids, also known as polyphenolic compounds, have been widely evaluated for their antibacterial property due to their tendency to retard the growth of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. The hydroxylation of C5, C7, C3′, and C4′; and geranylation or prenylation at C6 have been extensively studied to increase bacterial inhibition of flavonoids. On the other hand, methoxylation at C3′ and C5 has been reported to decrease flavonoids’ antibacterial action. Hence, the latest information on the antibacterial activity of flavonoids is summarized in this review, with particular attention to the structure–activity relationship of this broad class of natural compounds to discover safe and potent antibacterial agents as natural products.

Synthesis of Functionalized Thiophene Based Pyrazole Amides via Various Catalytic Approaches: Structural Features through Computational Applications and Nonlinear Optical Properties

In the present study, pyrazole-thiophene-based amide derivatives were synthesized by different methodologies. Here, 5-Bromothiophene carboxylic acid (2) was reacted with substituted, unsubstituted, and protected pyrazole to synthesize the amide. It was observed that unsubstituted amide (5-bromo-N-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide (7) was obtained at a good yield of about 68 percent. The unsubstituted amide (7) was arylated through Pd (0)-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, in the presence of tripotassium phosphate (K₃PO₄) as a base, and with 1,4-dioxane as a solvent. Moderate to good yields (66–81%) of newly synthesized derivatives were obtained. The geometry of the synthesized compounds (9a–9h) and other physical properties, like non-linear optical (NLO) properties, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and other chemical reactivity descriptors, including the chemical hardness, electronic chemical potential, ionization potential, electron affinity, and electrophilicity index have also been calculated for the synthesized compounds. In this study, DFT calculations have been used to investigate the electronic structure of the synthesized compounds and to compute their NMR data. It was also observed that the computed NMR data manifested significant agreement with the experimental NMR results. Furthermore, compound (9f) exhibits a better non-linear optical response compared to all other compounds in the series. Based on frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis and the reactivity descriptors, compounds (9c) and (9h) were predicted to be the most chemically reactive, while (9d) was estimated to be the most stable among the examined series of compounds.

Pseudocedrela kotschyi: a review of ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacology and phytochemistry

CONTEXT

Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf) Harms (Meliaceae) is an important medicinal plant found in tropical and subtropical countries of Africa. Traditionally, P. kotschyi is used in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes, malaria, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of traditional medicinal claims, pharmacological properties, and phytochemical principles of P. kotschyi as a basis for its clinical applications and further research and development of new drugs.

METHODS

Through interpreting already published scientific manuscripts retrieved from different scientific search engines, namely, Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct and Google scholar databases, an up-to-date review on the medicinal potentials of P. kotschyi from inception until September, 2020 was compiled. 'Pseudocedrela kotschyi', 'traditional uses', 'pharmacological properties' and 'chemical constituents' were used as search words.

RESULTS

At present, more than 30 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from the root and stem bark of P. kotschyi, among which limonoids and triterpenes are the main active constituents. Based on prior research, P. kotschyi has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anthelminthic, antimalaria, anti-leishmaniasis, anti-trypanosomiasis, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects.

CONCLUSIONS

P. kotschyi is reported to be effective in treating a variety of diseases. Current phytochemical and pharmacological studies mainly focus on antimalaria, anti-leishmaniasis, anti-trypanosomiasis and anticancer potential of the root and stem bark of P. kotschyi. Although experimental data support the beneficial medicinal properties of this plant, there is still a paucity of information on its toxicity profile. Nonetheless, this review provides the basis for future research work.

An In Vitro Anticancer Activity Evaluation of Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser Leaves' Extract and its Metabolite Profile

The leaves of Neolamarckia cadamba (NC) (Roxb.) Bosser (family: Rubiaceae) are traditionally used to treat breast cancer in Malaysia; however, this traditional claim is yet to be scientifically verified. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of NC leaves' ethanol extract against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7 cells) using an in vitro cell viability, cytotoxicity, and gene expression assays followed by the gas chromatography analysis to further confirm active principles. Results revealed 0.2 mg/ml as the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) against MCF-7. The extract exerted anticancer effect against MCF-7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The cell cycle assay showed that the extract arrested MCF-7 cells in the G0/G1 phase, and apoptosis was observed after 72 h by the Annexin-V assay. The gene expression assay revealed that the cell cycle arrest was associated with the downregulation of CDK2 and subsequent upregulation of p21 and cyclin E. The extract induced apoptosis via the mediation of the mitochondrial cell death pathways. A chromatography analysis revealed the contribution of D-pinitol and myo-inositol as the two major bioactive compounds to the activity observed. Overall, the study demonstrated that NC leaves' ethanol extract exerts anticancer effect against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, thereby justifying its traditional use for the treatment of breast cancer in Malaysia.

Natural Compounds from Hatikana Extract Potentiate Antidiabetic Actions as Displayed by In Vivo Assays and Verified by Network Pharmacological Tools

BACKGROUND

Hatikana is a traditional medicinal plant used to treat inflammation, urolithiasis, goiter, cancer, wounds and sores, gastrointestinal, tumor, tetanus, arthritis, hepatic damage, neurodegeneration, and other ailments. The goal of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic properties of Hatikana extract (HKEx) and to construct the effects of its natural constituents on the genes and biochemical indices that are connected with them.

METHODS

HKEx was evaluated using GC-MS and undertaken for a three-week intervention in fructose-fed STZ-induced Wistar albino rats at the doses of HKEx50, HKEx100, and HKEx200 mg/kg bw. Following intervention, blood serum was examined for biochemical markers, and liver tissue was investigated for the mRNA expression of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD1) by RTPCR analysis. Most abundant compounds (oleanolic acid, 7α, 28-olean diol, and stigmasterol) from GC-MS were chosen for the network pharmacological assay to verify function-specific gene-compound interactions using STITCH, STRING, GSEA, and Cytoscape plugin cytoHubba.

RESULTS

In vivo results showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of blood sugar, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine kinase (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increase of liver glycogen, glucose load, and serum insulin. Out of three antioxidative genes, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD1) were found to be few fold increased. Oleanolic acid and stigmasterol were noticed to strongly interact with 27 target proteins. Oleanolic acid interacted with the proteins AKR1B10, CASP3, CASP8, CYP1A2, CYP1A2, HMGB1, NAMPT, NFE2L2, NQO1, PPARA, PTGIR, TOP1, TOP2A, UGT2B10, and UGT2B11 and stigmasterol with ABCA1, ABCG5, ABCG8, CTSE, HMGCR, IL10, CXCL8, NR1H2, NR1H3, SLCO1B1, SREBF2, and TNF. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed the involvement of 25 target proteins out of twenty seven. Cytoscape plugin cytoHubba identified TNF, CXCL8, CASP3, PPARA, SREBF2, and IL10 as top hub genes. Pathway analysis identified 31 KEGG metabolic, signaling, and immunogenic pathways associated with diabetes. Notable degree of PPI enrichment showed that SOD1 and CAT are responsible for controlling signaling networks and enriched pathways.

CONCLUSION

The findings show that antioxidative genes have regulatory potential, allowing the HKEx to be employed as a possible antidiabetic source pending further validation.

Potential Effects of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) in Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia-A Systematic Review in Diabetic Retinopathy Context

Hyperglycemia is a condition with high glucose levels that may result in dyslipidemia. In severe cases, this alteration may lead to diabetic retinopathy. Numerous drugs have been approved by officials to treat these conditions, but usage of any synthetic drugs in the long term will result in unavoidable side effects such as kidney failure. Therefore, more emphasis is being placed on natural ingredients due to their bioavailability and absence of side effects. In regards to this claim, promising results have been witnessed in the usage of Ipomoea batatas (I. batatas) in treating the hyperglycemic and dyslipidemic condition. Thus, the aim of this paper is to conduct an overview of the reported effects of I. batatas focusing on in vitro and in vivo trials in reducing high glucose levels and regulating the dyslipidemic condition. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Nature, and PubMed databases to identify the potential articles on particular topics. The search query was accomplished based on the Boolean operators involving keywords such as (1) Beneficial effect OR healing OR intervention AND (2) sweet potato OR Ipomoea batatas OR traditional herb AND (3) blood glucose OR LDL OR lipid OR cholesterol OR dyslipidemia. Only articles published from 2011 onwards were selected for further analysis. This review includes the (1) method of intervention and the outcome (2) signaling mechanism involved (3) underlying mechanism of action, and the possible side effects observed based on the phytoconstiuents isolated. The comprehensive literature search retrieved a total of 2491 articles using the appropriate keywords. However, on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 23 articles were chosen for further review. The results from these articles indicate that I. batatas has proven to be effective in treating the hyperglycemic condition and is able to regulate dyslipidemia. Therefore, this systematic review summarizes the signaling mechanism, mechanism of action, and phytoconstituents responsible for those activities of I. batatas in treating hyperglycemic based on the in vitro and in vivo study.

Pharmacoinformatics and UPLC-QTOF/ESI-MS-Based Phytochemical Screening of Combretum indicum against Oxidative Stress and Alloxan-Induced Diabetes in Long-Evans Rats

This research investigated a UPLC-QTOF/ESI-MS-based phytochemical profiling of Combretum indicum leaf extract (CILEx), and explored its in vitro antioxidant and in vivo antidiabetic effects in a Long-Evans rat model. After a one-week intervention, the animals' blood glucose, lipid profile, and pancreatic architectures were evaluated. UPLC-QTOF/ESI-MS fragmentation of CILEx and its eight docking-guided compounds were further dissected to evaluate their roles using bioinformatics-based network pharmacological tools. Results showed a very promising antioxidative effect of CILEx. Both doses of CILEx were found to significantly (p < 0.05) reduce blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol (TC), and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Pancreatic tissue architectures were much improved compared to the diabetic control group. A computational approach revealed that schizonepetoside E, melianol, leucodelphinidin, and arbutin were highly suitable for further therapeutic assessment. Arbutin, in a Gene Ontology and PPI network study, evolved as the most prospective constituent for 203 target proteins of 48 KEGG pathways regulating immune modulation and insulin secretion to control diabetes. The fragmentation mechanisms of the compounds are consistent with the obtained effects for CILEx. Results show that the natural compounds from CILEx could exert potential antidiabetic effects through in vivo and computational study.

Discovery of polymethoxyflavones as potential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitors

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed to treat inflammatory-related diseases, pain and fever. However, the prolong use of traditional NSAIDs leads to undesirable side effects such as gastric, ulceration, and renal toxicity due to lack of selectivity toward respective targets for COX-2, 5-LOX, and PDE4B. Thus, targeting multiple sites can reduce these adverse effects of the drugs and increase its potency. A series of methoxyflavones (F1-F5) were synthesized and investigated for their anti-inflammatory properties through molecular docking and inhibition assays. Among these flavones, only F2 exhibited selectivity toward COX-2 (Selectivity Index, SI: 3.90, COX-2 inhibition: 98.96 ± 1.47%) in comparison with celecoxib (SI: 7.54, COX-2 inhibition: 98.20 ± 2.55%). For PDEs, F3 possessed better selectivity to PDE4B (SI: 4.67) than rolipram (SI: 0.78). F5 had the best 5-LOX inhibitory activity among the flavones (33.65 ± 4.74%) but less than zileuton (90.81 ± 0.19%). Docking analysis indicated that the position of methoxy group and the substitution of halogen play role in determining the bioactivities of flavones. Interestingly, F1-F5 displayed favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and acceptable range of toxicity (IC₅₀>70 µM) in cell lines with the exception for F1 (IC₅₀: 16.02 ± 1.165 µM). This study generated valuable insight in designing new anti-inflammatory drug based on flavone scaffold. The newly synthesized flavones can be further developed as future therapeutic agents against inflammation.

Assessing the influence of neglected GC-FID variables on the multiple responses using multivariate optimization for the determination of ethanol and acetonitrile in radiopharmaceuticals

Analytical gas chromatography in line with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) method was developed and validated for direct determination of organic solvents in [18F]fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine ([18F]FET), [18F]fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) and [18F]fluorothymidine ([18F]FLT). Variables of the splitless time (min) and injection temperature (°C) on the response of analysis time and resolution were optimized with the assistance of a two-level full factorial design and desirability function of Derringer. The proposed procedure was validated following the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Q2 (R1) guideline. Excellent linearity, R2 > 0.990, indicated that approximately 99% of the response variance could be predicted from ethanol and acetonitrile concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 6.0 mg mL−1 and 0.1 to 0.8 mg mL−1, respectively. The proposed procedure has proved to be selective, sensitive, and accurate (90–110%), with excellent repeatability and precision (RSD < 2%). In the robustness analysis, the findings from the calculated Standardized Effects Values (SE) were insignificant (p > 0.05) and demonstrated that the proposed method was robust for a splitless time of 1.0 ± 0.5 min and an injection temperature of 210 ± 10 °C. The proposed method was also successfully used for the quantitative determination of ethanol and acetonitrile in [18F]FET, [18F]FMISO, and [18F]FLT. Both solvents were well separated (R, 4.1–4.3) within 4.5 min. Therefore, the proposed method is relevant for routine quality control analysis of all 18F-radiopharmaceutical derivatives for the direct determination of ethanol and acetonitrile.

Polyphenolics and triterpenes presence in chloroform extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves attenuated paracetamol-induced liver intoxication in rat

Introduction

Water-soluble, but not lipid-soluble, extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves has been proven to possess hepatoprotective activity. The present study aimed to validate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities, and phytoconstituents of lipid-soluble (chloroform) extract of D. linearis leaves.

Methods

The extract of D. linearis leaves (CEDL; 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats for 7 consecutive days followed by the oral administration of 3 g/kg PCM to induce liver injury. Blood was collected for liver function analysis while the liver was obtained for histopathological examination and endogenous antioxidant activity determination. The extract was also subjected to antioxidant evaluation and phytochemicals determination via phytochemical screening, HPLC and UPLC-HRMS analyses.

Results

CEDL exerted significant (p < 0.05) hepatoprotective activity at 250 and 500 mg/kg and significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the PCM-induced decrease in rat’s liver endogenous antioxidant (catalase and superoxide dismutase) level. CEDL possessed a high antioxidant capacity when measured using the ORAC assay, but a low total phenolic content value and radical scavenging activity as confirmed via several radical scavenging assays, which might be attributed particularly to the presence of triterpenes. Phytochemicals screening demonstrated the presence of triterpenes and flavonoids, while UPLC-HRMS analysis showed the presence of polyphenols belonging to the hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinammates and flavonoid groups.

Discussion and conclusion

Lipid-soluble bioactive compounds of CEDL demonstrated hepatoprotective effect against PCM intoxication partly via the modulation of the endogenous antioxidant defense system, and exerted high antioxidant capacity. Further investigation is warranted to identify the potential hepatoprotective leads from CEDL for future drug development.

Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value

Inflammation is the main key role in developing chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases which possess a huge challenge for treatment. With massively compelling evidence of the role played by nutritional modulation in preventing inflammation-related diseases, there is a growing interest into the search for natural functional foods with therapeutic and preventive actions. Honey, a nutritional healthy product, is produced mainly by two types of bees: honeybee and stingless bee. Since both types of honey possess distinctive phenolic and flavonoid compounds, there is recently an intensive interest in their biological and clinical actions against inflammation-mediated chronic diseases. This review shed the light specifically on the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of honey polyphenols and highlight their roles in targeting inflammatory pathways in gastrointestinal tract disorders, edema, cancer, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and gut microbiota.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Dicranopteris linearis leaf extract against paracetamol-induced liver intoxication in rats

Context: Dicranopteris linearis L. (Gleicheniaceae) leaves have been reported to exert hepatoprotective activity.Objective: The hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of ethyl acetate partition of D. linearis (EADL) are investigated.Materials and methods: EADL was subjected to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory studies, and phytochemical analyses. In vivo study involved six groups (n = 6) of overnight fasted Sprague Dawley rats. The test solutions [10% DMSO (normal), 10% DMSO (negative), 200 mg/kg silymarin (positive) or EADL (50, 250 or 500 mg/kg)] were administered orally once daily for 7 consecutive days followed by oral vehicle (only for normal) or hepatotoxic induction using 3 g/kg paracetamol (PCM).Results: EADL exerted ≈ 90% radical scavenging effects based on the DPPH and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays, high antioxidant capacity in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (≈ 555,000 units), high total phenolic content (≈ 350 mg GAE/100 g extract) (p < 0.05), but low anti-inflammatory effect. EADL also attenuated PCM-induced liver intoxication as indicated by reduced level of serum liver enzymes; increased activity of endogenous enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase - 8.3 vs. 4.0 U/g tissue; catalase - 119 vs. 52 U/g tissue) and; reduced level of lipid peroxidation marker (2.7 vs. 5.0 µM). Preliminary screening of EADL revealed the presence of saponins, tannins and flavonoids with further HPLC analysis demonstrating the presence of rutin and quercetin.Discussion and conclusion: EADL exerted hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities; thus, these data support the potential use of D. linearis as a new source for future hepatoprotective drug development.

Analysis of expression of vitamin E-binding proteins in H2O2 induced SK-N-SH neuronal cells supplemented with α-tocopherol and tocotrienol-rich fraction

Natural α-tocopherol (α-TCP), but not tocotrienol, is preferentially retained in the human body. α-Tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) is responsible for binding α-TCP for cellular uptake and has high affinity and specificity for α-TCP but not α-tocotrienol. The purpose of this study was to examine the modification of α-TTP together with other related vitamin E-binding genes (i.e., TTPA, SEC14L2, and PI-TPNA) in regulating vitamin E uptake in neuronal cells at rest and under oxidative stress. Oxidative stress was induced with H2O2 for an hour which was followed by supplementation with different ratios of α-TCP and tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) for four hours. The cellular levels of vitamin E were quantified to determine bioavailability at cellular levels. The expression levels of TTPA, SEC14L2, and PI-TPNA genes in 0% α-TCP were found to be positively correlated with the levels of vitamin E in resting neuronal cells. In addition, the regulation of all the above-mentioned genes affect the distribution of vitamin E in the neuronal cells. It was observed that, increased levels of α-TCP secretion occur under oxidative stress. Thus, our results showed that in conclusion vitamin E-binding proteins may be modified in the absence of α-TCP to produce tocotrienols (TCT), as a source of vitamin E. The current study suggests that the expression levels of vitamin E transport proteins may influence the cellular concentrations of vitamin E levels in the neuronal cells.

Comparative Efficacy of Selected Phytobiotics with Halquinol and Tetracycline on Gut Morphology, Ileal Digestibility, Cecal Microbiota Composition and Growth Performance in Broiler Chickens

Simple Summary

Antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) are banned in Europe but still used in many countries including Asia. However, their indiscriminate use resulted in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains that possibly transfer the resistant genes to the microorganisms pertinent to human health. Hence, it is essential to find alternatives that can improve the production performance in broiler chickens. In this scenario, phytobiotics or phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) are widely investigated to evaluate their influence on improving gut health, increasing digestibility, and thereby the growth performance. The present study is a continuity of our experiments on dietary inclusion of Piper betle and Persicaria odorata leaf meal and the first of its kind to evaluate the comparative efficacy of phytobiotics (Piper betle and Persicaria odorata leaf meal), with halquinol and tetracycline in broiler chickens. The current experiment findings indicated that, in comparison with the control group, either of the dietary treatments positively modulated the gut morphology, improved ileal digestibility, maintained the intestinal population of Lactobacillus and reduced the pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium spp., thus improved the growth performance in broiler chickens.

Abstract

The current experiment was designed to estimate the comparative efficacy of selected phytobiotics Persicaria odorata leaf meal (POLM) and Piper betle leaf meal (PBLM) with halquinol, and tetracycline in broiler chickens. The 150-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary groups. The dietary supplementation groups were the basal diet (BD), which served as the negative control (NC), and BD + 0.2 g/kg tetracycline, which served as the positive control (PC); BD + 0.03 g/kg halquinol (HAL), BD + 8 g/kg POLM (Po8), and BD + 4 g/kg PBLM (Pb4) were the treatment groups. Growth performance, gut morphology, ileal digestibility, and cecal microbiota composition were measured. On day 21, the body weight gain (BWG) was enhanced (p < 0.05) in the broiler chickens fed on phytobiotics (Po8 and Pb4) relative to the NC group, however, on day 42 and in terms of overall growth performance, BWG was enhanced (p < 0.05 in diets (Po8, Pb4, HAL and PC) in comparison with the NC group. Conversely, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded reduced (p < 0.05) in Pb4, Po8, HAL, and PC group in comparison with the NC group. Supplementation of phytobiotics (Po8 and Pb4), HAL and PC, positively improved the gut morphology compared to the NC group. Furthermore, the maximum (p < 0.05) villus height (VH) in duodenum and jejunum was observed in broilers fed on diet Pb4. Supplementation of phytobiotics, HAL and PC, improved (p < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter (DM) (except for HAL), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and ash compared to the NC group. Dietary supplementation of phytobiotics (Po8 and Pb4), HAL and PC, significantly reduced the E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus (except for HAL) counts compared to the NC group. However, supplementation of Pb4 resulted in significantly decreased total anaerobic bacteria and Clostridium spp. counts compared to the NC group. In addition, supplementation of phytobiotics significantly increased the Lactobacillus count compared to HAL, PC, and NC groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of phytobiotics improved the gut morphology, positively modulated and maintained the dynamics of cecal microbiota with enhanced nutrient digestibility, thus, increased the growth performance. Based on current results, phytobiotics could be used as an alternative to AGPs for sustainable broiler chicken production.

Self-nanoemulsifying Delivery of Andrographolide: Ameliorating Islet Beta Cells and Inhibiting Adipocyte Differentiation

Purpose: Insulin resistance is a characteristic of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus associated with obesity and caused by the failure of pancreatic beta cells to secrete sufficient amount of insulin. Andrographolide (AND) improves beta-cell reconstruction and inhibits fat-cell formation. This research aimed to improve the delivery of water-insoluble AND in self-nanoemulsifying (ASNE) formulation, tested in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells.

Methods: A conventional formulation of AND in suspension was used as a control. The experimental rats were orally administered with self-nanoemulsifying (SNE) and suspension of AND for 8 days. Measurements were performed to evaluate blood glucose levels in preprandial and postprandial conditions. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the process of islet beta cell reconstruction. In vitro study was performed using cell viability and adipocyte differentiation assay to determine the delivery of AND in the formulation.

Results: ASNE lowered blood glucose levels (day 4) faster than AND suspension (day 6). The histological testing showed that ASNE could regenerate pancreatic beta cells. Therefore, ASNE ameliorated pancreatic beta cells. The in vitro evaluation indicated the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by both AND and ASNE, which occurred in a time-dependent manner. ASNE formulation had better delivery than AND.

Conclusion: ASNE could improve the antidiabetic activity by lowering blood glucose levels, enhancing pancreatic beta cells, and inhibiting lipid formation in adipocyte cells.

Analytical GC-FID Method for the Determination of Organic Solvents in Radiopharmaceuticals

BACKGROUND

Organic solvents play an indispensable role in most of the radiopharmaceutical production stages. It is almost impossible to remove them entirely in the final formulation of the product.

OBJECTIVE

In this presented work, an analytical method by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) has been developed to determine organic solvents in radiopharmaceutical samples. The effect of injection holding time, temperature variation in the injection port, and the column temperature on the analysis time and resolution (R ≥ 1.5) of ethanol and acetonitrile was studied extensively.

METHODS

The experimental conditions were optimized with the aid of further statistical analysis; thence, the proposed method was validated following the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) Q2 (R1) guideline.

RESULTS

The proposed analytical method surpassed the acceptance criteria including the linearity > 0.990 (correlation coefficient of R²), precision < 2%, LOD, and LOQ, accuracy > 90% for all solvents. The separation between ethanol and acetonitrile was acceptable with a resolution R > 1.5. Further statistical analysis of Oneway ANOVA revealed that the increment in injection holding time and variation of temperature at the injection port did not significantly affect the analysis time. Nevertheless, the variation in injection port temperature substantially influenced the resolution of ethanol and acetonitrile peaks (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The proposed analytical method has been successfully implemented to determine the organic solvent in the [¹⁸F]fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine ([¹⁸F]FET), [¹⁸F]fluoromisonidazole ([¹⁸F]FMISO), and [¹⁸F]fluorothymidine ([¹⁸F]FLT).

Safety evaluation of orally-administered methanol extract of Muntingia calabura Linn. leaves: A sub-chronic toxicity study in Sprague Dawley rats

Muntingia calabura (M. calabura), locally known as "kerukup siam" or "buah ceri" belongs to the family Muntingiaceae and has been scientifically demonstrated to exert various pharmacological activities. The objectives of the current study are to evaluate the antioxidant activities and to determine the subchronic toxicity of 90 days orally-administered methanol extract of M. calabura (MEMC) in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6). Vehicle control received 8% tween 80 and treatment group received 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg of MEMC orally administered daily for 90 days. Blood collection was carried out to obtain the hematological and biochemical profile of the rats. The organs harvested were subjected to histopathological analysis. For the antioxidant test, the extract was subjected to antioxidant study using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- and superoxide anion-radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and phytochemical screening. Results obtained show that no adverse effects were observed during the experimental period. Hematological and biochemical analysis also showed no significant changes in this toxicity study. Besides, antioxidant analyses revealed that MEMC has higher DPPH- and SOD-radical scavenges activity as well as higher TPC value. In conclusion, M. calabura is safe for consumption and possesses beneficial antioxidant effect.

Phytochemistry, Traditional Use and Pharmacological Activity of Picrasma quassioides: A Critical Reviews

Picrasma quassioides is a member of the Simaroubaceae family commonly grown in the regions of Asia, the Himalayas, and India and has been used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat various illnesses such as fever, gastric discomfort, and pediculosis. This study aims to critically review the presence of phytochemicals in P. quassioides and correlate their pharmacological activities with the significance of its use as traditional medicine. Data were collected by reviewing numerous scientific articles from several journal databases on the pharmacological activities of P. quassioides using certain keywords. As a result, approximately 94 phytochemicals extracted from P. quassioides were found to be associated with quassinoids, β-carbolines and canthinones. These molecules exhibited various pharmacological benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-parasitic activities which help to treat different diseases. However, P. quassioides were also found to have several toxicity effects in high doses, although the evidence regarding these effects is limited in proving its safe use and efficacy as herbal medicine. Accordingly, while it can be concluded that P. quassioides may have many potential pharmacological benefits with more phytochemistry discoveries, further research is required to determine its real value in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy of use.

Selective Arylation of 2-Bromo-4-chlorophenyl-2-bromobutanoate via a Pd-Catalyzed Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction and Its Electronic and Non-Linear Optical (NLO) Properties via DFT Studies

In the present study, 2-bromo-4-chlorophenyl-2-bromobutanoate (3) was synthesized via the reaction of 2-bromo-4-chlorophenol with 2-bromobutanoyl bromide in the presence of pyridine. A variety of 2-bromo-4-chlorophenyl-2-bromobutanoate derivatives (5a–f) were synthesized with moderate to good yields via a Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. To find out the reactivity and electronic properties of the compounds, Frontier molecular orbital analysis, non-linear optical properties, and molecular electrostatic potential studies were performed.

Synthesis, in vitro urease inhibitory potential and molecular docking study of benzofuran-based-thiazoldinone analogues

In continuation of our work on enzyme inhibition, the benzofuran-based-thiazoldinone analogues (1-14) were synthesized, characterized by HREI-MS, 1H and 13CNMR and evaluated for urease inhibition. Compounds 1-14 exhibited a varying degree of urease inhibitory activity with IC50 values between 1.2 ± 0.01 to 23.50 ± 0.70 µM when compared with standard drug thiourea having IC50 value 21.40 ± 0.21 µM. Compound 1, 3, 5 and 8 showed significant inhibitory effects with IC50 values 1.2 ± 0.01, 2.20 ± 0.01, 1.40 ± 0.01 and 2.90 ± 0.01 µM respectively, better than the rest of the series. A structure activity relationship (SAR) of this series has been established based on electronic effects and position of different substituents present on phenyl ring. Molecular docking studies were performed to understand the binding interaction of the compounds.

Complementary alternative medicine use among postpartum mothers in a primary care setting: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia

Background

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used among postpartum mothers to maintain their well-being. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with CAM use among postpartum mothers in a primary-care clinic in Malaysia.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 725 postpartum mothers, aged 18 and above, attending a primary-care clinic. The systematic sampling method was used to recruit patients through a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of CAM use among postpartum mothers.

Results

The prevalence of CAM use among postpartum mothers was 85.5%. Manipulative body therapies, including massage, reflexology, hot stone compression and body wrapping were the most widely used methods of CAM (84.1%) among postpartum mothers, followed by biological-based therapies (33.1%). More than half of the respondents (52.1%) opted to use CAM, as they had observed good results from other CAM users. However, our study showed that 57.1% of mothers who consumed herbal medicine reported neonatal jaundice in their newborn. The median of the expenditure on CAM usage was 250 Malaysian Ringgits, or USD 61.3 per month. According to multiple logistic regression analyses, being Muslim (OR = 5.258, 95% CI: 2.952–9.368), being Malay (OR = 4.414, 95% CI: 1.18–16.56), having a higher educational level (OR = 2.561, 95% CI: 1.587–4.133) and having delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery (OR: 5.660, 95% CI: 3.454–9.276) had a significantly positive association with CAM use among postpartum mothers.

Conclusions

The prevalence of CAM use was high (8 out of 10) among postpartum mothers. Postpartum mothers who are Malay, Muslim, have a higher educational level and who have had spontaneous vaginal delivery tended to use CAM more. Manipulative body therapies, including massage, reflexology, hot stone compression and body wrapping, were the most widely used forms of CAM, followed by biological-based therapies. More than half of the mothers who consumed herbal medicine reported neonatal jaundice in their newborn. Thus, education to increase awareness regarding the consumption of herbs is urgently required in this country.

Antinociceptive Activity of Asiaticoside in Mouse Models of Induced Nociception

The antinociceptive property of Centella asiatica extracts is known but the analgesic activity of its bioactive constituent asiaticoside has not been reported. We evaluated the antinociceptive activity of orally (p. o.) administered asiaticoside (1, 3, 5, and 10 mg/kg) in mice using the 0.6% acetic acid-induced writhing test, the 2.5% formalin-induced paw licking test, and the hot plate test. The capsaicin- and glutamate-induced paw licking tests were employed to evaluate the involvement of the vanilloid and glutamatergic systems, respectively. Asiaticoside (3, 5, and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) reduced the rate of writhing (p < 0.0001) by 25.3, 47.8, and 53.9%, respectively, and increased the latency period (p < 0.05) on the hot plate at 60 min post-treatment until the end of the experiment. Moreover, asiaticoside (3, 5, and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) shortened the time spent in licking/biting the injected paw (p < 0.0001) in the early phase of the formalin test by 45.7, 51.4, and 52.7%, respectively, and in the late phase (p < 0.01) by 23.6, 40.5, and 50.6%, respectively. Antinociception induced by asiaticoside (10 mg/kg) was not antagonized by naloxone in both the 2.5% formalin-induced nociception and the hot plate test, indicating a nonparticipation of the opioidergic system. Asiaticoside (1, 3, 5, and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) reduced the duration of biting/licking the capsaicin-injected paw (p < 0.0001) by 40.5, 48.2, 59.5, and 63.5%, respectively. Moreover, asiaticoside (5 and 10 mg/kg) shortened the time spent in biting/licking the glutamate-injected paw (p < 0.01) by 29.9 and 48.6%, respectively. Therefore, asiaticoside (5 and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) induces antinociception possibly through the vanilloid and glutamatergic systems.

Methanol Extract of Dicranopteris linearis Leaves Attenuate Pain via the Modulation of Opioid/NO-Mediated Pathway

Dicranopteris linearis leaf has been reported to exert antinociceptive activity. The present study elucidates the possible mechanisms of antinociception modulated by the methanol extract of D. linearis leaves (MEDL) using various mouse models. The extract (25, 150, and 300 mg/kg) was administered orally to mice for 30 min priot to subjection to the acetic acid-induced writhing-, hot plate- or formalin-test to establish the antinociceptive profile of MEDL. The most effective dose was then used in the elucidation of possible mechanisms of action stage. The extract was also subjected to the phytochemical analyses. The results confirmed that MEDL exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in those pain models as well as the capsaicin-, glutamate-, bradykinin- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced paw licking model. Pretreatment with naloxone (a non-selective opioid antagonist) significantly (p < 0.05) reversed MEDL effect on thermal nociception. Only l-arginine (a nitric oxide (NO) donor) but not N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; a NO inhibitor) or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; a specific soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) significantly (p < 0.05) modified MEDL effect on the writhing test. Several polyphenolics and volatile antinociceptive compounds were detected in MEDL. In conclusion, MEDL exerted the opioid/NO-mediated antinociceptive activity, thus, justify D. linearis as a potential source for new analgesic agents development.

Renal ultrastructural alterations induced by various preparations of mefenamic acid

Mefenamic acid (MFA) treatment is associated with a number of cellular effects that potentiate the incidence of renal toxicity. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential ultrastructural alterations induced by various preparations of MFA (free MFA, MFA-Tween 80 liposomes, and MFA-DDC liposomes) on the renal tissues. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a daily dose of MFA preparations for 28 days. Renal biopsies from all groups of rats under study were processed for transmission electron microscopic examination. The findings revealed that MFA preparations induced various ultrastructural alterations including mitochondrial injury, nuclear and lysosomal alterations, tubular cells steatosis, apoptotic activity, autophagy, and nucleophagy. These alterations were more clear in rats received free MFA, and MFA-Tween 80 liposomes than those received MFA-DDC liposomes. It is concluded that MFA-DDC liposomes are less potential to induce renal damage than free MFA and MFA-Tween 80 liposomes. Thus, MFA-DDC liposomes may offer an advantage of safe drug delivery.

Methanol extract of Muntingia calabura leaves attenuates CCl4-induced liver injury: possible synergistic action of flavonoids and volatile bioactive compounds on endogenous defence system

CONTEXT

Muntingia calabura L. (Muntingiaceae) exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, thus, it might be a good hepatoprotective agent.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the effect of methanol extract of M. calabura leaves (MMCL) on hepatic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in CCl₄-induced hepatotoxic rat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6) were treated (p.o.) with 10% DMSO (Groups 1 and 2), 50 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine (Group 3) or, 50, 250, or 500 mg/kg MMCL (Groups 4-6) for 7 consecutive days followed by pretreatment (i.p.) with vehicle (Group 1) or 50% CCl₄ in olive oil (v/v) (Groups 2-6) on day 7th. Plasma liver enzymes and hepatic antioxidant enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines concentrations were measured while liver histopathology was examined.

RESULTS

MMCL, at 500 mg/kg, significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity by decreasing the plasma level of alanine transaminase (429.1 versus 168.7 U/L) and aspartate transaminase (513.8 versus 438.1 U/L) as well as the tissue level of nitric oxide (62.7 versus 24.1 nmol/g tissue). At 50, 250, or 500 mg/kg, MMCL significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the tumour necrosis factor α (87.8 versus 32.7 pg/mg tissue), interleukin-1β (1474.4 versus 618.3 pg/mg tissue), and interleukin-6 (136.7 versus 30.8 pg/mg tissue) while increased the liver catalase (92.1 versus 114.4 U/g tissue) and superoxide dismutase (3.4 versus 5.5 U/g tissue). Additionally, qualitative phytochemicals analysis showed that MMCL contained gallic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, and genistein.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

MMCL ability to attenuate CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity could be helpful in the development of hepatoprotective agents with fewer side effects.

Vitamins D and E Stimulate the PI3K-AKT Signalling Pathway in Insulin-Resistant SK-N-SH Neuronal Cells

This study investigated the effects of vitamins D and E on an insulin-resistant model and hypothesized that this treatment would reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and improves insulin signalling. An insulin-resistant model was induced in SK-N-SH neuronal cells with a treatment of 250 nM insulin and re-challenged with 100 nM at two different incubation time (16 h and 24 h). The effects of vitamin D (10 and 20 ng/mL), vitamin E in the form of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) (200 ng/mL) and the combination of vitamins D and E on insulin signalling markers (IR, PI3K, GLUT3, GLUT4, and p-AKT), glucose uptake and AD markers (GSK3β and TAU) were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results demonstrated an improvement of the insulin signalling pathway upon treatment with vitamin D alone, with significant increases in IR, PI3K, GLUT3, GLUT4 expression levels, as well as AKT phosphorylation and glucose uptake, while GSK3β and TAU expression levels was decreased significantly. On the contrary, vitamin E alone, increased p-AKT, reduced the ROS as well as GSK3β and TAU but had no effect on the insulin signalling expression levels. The combination of vitamins D and E only showed significant increase in GLUT4, p-AKT, reduced ROS as well as GSK3β and TAU. Thus, the universal role of vitamin D, E alone and in combinations could be the potential nutritional agents in restoring the sensitivity of neuronal cells towards insulin and delaying the pathophysiological progression of AD.

Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.