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.
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.
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.
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
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.
METHODS: This article tends to identify the global social indicators, compiled into a global index, and develop a correlation between the global social index created by using the human development index, social and political globalization, the global happiness index, and the quality of infrastructure, institutions, and individuals using the internet factors and its effect on global obesity.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our results identified a positive correlation between medium human development levels with obesity compared to low and very high human development levels. Economic stability due to rapid industrialization has increased the buying capacity and changed the global food system, which seems to be the major driver of the rise of global obesity.
CONCLUSION: The results decipher that global social indicators and overall social index have positively affected global obesity, which will help policymakers and governmental organizations monitor the obesity patterns across their regions by a significant contribution from globally influenced social factors.