OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine whether Gynura procumbens (GP) could improve vascular reactivity by suppressing inflammation in postmenopausal rats fed with five-times heated palm oil (5HPO) diet.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham [non-ovariectomized; grouped as control, GP extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg), atorvastatin (ATV, 10 mg/kg)] and postmenopausal (PM) groups [ovariectomized rats fed with 5HPO; grouped as PM, GP extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) and ATV (10 mg/kg)]. Each group (n = 6) was either supplemented with GP extract or ATV orally once daily for 6 months.
RESULTS: In comparison with the untreated PM group, 250 and 500 mg/kg GP supplementation to PM groups reduced the systolic blood pressure (103 ± 2.7, 86 ± 2.4 vs. 156 ± 7.83 mmHg, p
METHOD: Male SD rats were divided into five groups (n = 8), injected with LPS and thereafter treated with LA (50 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle orally for 14 days. After fourteen days of LA treatment, all the groups were humanely killed to investigate biochemical parameters followed by pro-inflammatory cytokine markers; tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β. Moreover, liver tissues were harvested for histopathological studies and evaluation of targeted protein expression with western blot and localisation through immunohistochemistry (IHC).
RESULTS: The study results showed that treatment of LA 50 and 100 mg/kg for 14 days were able to reduce the elevated level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, liver inflammation, and downregulated the expression of TLR4/NF-κB mediating proteins in liver tissues.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that treatment of LA has a protective role against LPS-induced liver inflammation in rats, thus, warrants further in-depth investigation through mechanistic approaches in different study models.
METHODS: Two parameters were measured (i) rate of glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells in-vitro (ii) degree of pancreatic destruction in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced male diabetic rats receiving M. pumilum aqueous extract (M.P) (250 and 500mg/kg/day) as reflected by levels of pancreatic oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. In the meantime, phyto-chemical compounds in M.P were also identified by using LC-MS.
RESULTS: M.P was found able to enhance glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells in-vitro while its administration to the male diabetic rats causes decreased in the fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels but causes increased in insulin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, to near normal. Levels of oxidative stress in the pancreas as reflected by levels of lipid peroxidation product (LPO) decreased while levels of anti-oxidantive enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx) in pancreas increased. Additionally, levels of inflammation as reflected by NF-κB p65, Ikkβ and TNF-α levels decreased while apoptosis levels as reflected by caspase-9 and Bax levels decreased. Anti-apoptosis marker, Bcl-2 levels in pancreas increased.
CONCLUSIONS: The ability of M.P to enhance glucose uptake and reduces pancreatic complications could account for its beneficial effects in treating DM.
METHODS: Streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats received oral VVSME for 28days. MI was induced by intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol on last two days. Prior to sacrifice, blood was collected and fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile and insulin levels were measured. Levels of serum cardiac injury marker (troponin-I and CK-MB) were determined and histopathological changes in the heart were observed following harvesting. Levels of oxidative stress (LPO, SOD, CAT, GPx and RAGE), inflammation (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and cardiac ATPases (Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase) were determined in heart homogenates. LC-MS was used to identify constituents in the extracts.
RESULTS: Consumption of VVSME by diabetic rats with or without MI improved the metabolic profiles while decreased the cardiac injury marker levels with lesser myocardial damage observed. Additionally, VVSME consumption reduced the levels of LPO, RAGE, TNF-α, Iκκβ, NF-κβ, IL-1β and IL-6 while increased the levels of SOD, CAT, GPx, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase in the infarcted and non-infarcted heart of diabetic rats (p<0.05). LC-MS analysis revealed 17 major compounds in VVSME which might be responsible for the observed effects.
CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of VVSME by diabetics helps to ameliorate damage to the infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium by decreasing oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiac ATPases dysfunctions.