Protective Effects of Curcumin Phytosomes Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis.

Curcumin has been shown to have beneficial effects on pathogenic factors involved in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of curcumin phytosomes on atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet in rabbits. A total of 16 adult male New Zealand white rabbits (1.8-2 kg) were fed with a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 4 weeks. The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of four animals each. Group I orally received PBS for 4 weeks. Group II animals were treated with curcumin-phosphatidylcholine solid state dispersion (Meriva®, Indena, Italy) suspended in normal saline at doses equivalent to 100 mg/kg of curcuminoids per day p.o., for 4 weeks. Groups III and IV were treated with curcumin-phosphatidylserine solid state dispersion (Meriserin®, Indena, Italy) suspended in normal saline at doses equivalent to 10 and 100 mg/kg of curcuminoids, respectively, per day p.o., for 4 weeks. For atherosclerosis evaluation, histological examinations on aortic arch section were performed. Blood samples were obtained to determine lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Curcumin-phosphatidylserine (100 mg/kg) therapy resulted in a significant reduction in grading of atherosclerotic plaque and intima/media thickness ratio (P < 0.05) and decreased presence of inflammatory cells in the atherosclerotic lesions compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were observed between the curcumin-phospholipid preparations and the control group regarding lipid profile and hs-CRP levels. Results of the present study revealed an atheroprotective effect of curcumin-phosphatidylserine (100 mg/kg) solid dispersion as revealed by a reduction in the development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Investigation of the Effects of Difluorinated Curcumin on Glycemic Indices in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin is an antioxidant agent that improves glycemia in animal models of diabetes. Clinically curcumin use is limited due to poor solubility, weak absorption, and low bioavailability; therefore, this study to investigate the effects of curcumin's analog, difluorinated curcumin (CDF), on fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and insulin tolerance test (ITT), in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was undertaken. METHODS: STZ-induced diabetes rats were randomly assigned to six groups (7 rats per group). They were treated daily by oral gavage with curcumin (200 and 100 mg/kg/day), CDF (200 and 100 mg/kg/day), and metformin (200 mg/kg/day) as a positive control group, for 4 weeks. Two diabetic control (DC) and normal control (NC) groups (non-diabetic rats) received normal saline and citrate buffer, respectively. FBG was measured at the beginning and end of the treatment (Day 0 and week 4) and OGTT and ITT were performed to determine glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. RESULTS: Cur100, CDF 100, and CDF200 significantly decreased FBG levels after 4 weeks oral administration by -34% (-150 mg/dL ± 70, p = 0.02), -36% (123 mg/dL ±67, p < 0.04), and - 40% (-189 mg/dL ± 91, p = 0.03), respectively. Glucose sensitivity by OGTT showed a significant improvement in glucose tolerance ability in all treated groups compared with DC group. ITT demonstrated that insulin response improved significantly in Cur100 and CDF 200 groups. CONCLUSION: Overall, CDF improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, while reducing FBG compared to curcumin, suggesting that curcumin analogs may have therapeutic utility in diabetes.

Investigation of the Effects of Trehalose on Glycemic Indices in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder with considerable morbidity and mortality because of its associated complications that has become a challenging health problem worldwide. Trehalose (mycose) is a nonreducing disaccharide with a unique therapeutic potency without adverse effects, which has been found to improve glucose metabolism and homeostasis in different diabetes models. We hypothesized that trehalose can reduce blood glucose and improve insulin sensitivity. We have conducted this study to evaluate the effect of trehalose on glycemic indices in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHOD: Fourteen diabetic rats were randomly assigned in two treatment groups (seven rats per group) that received trehalose at a dose of 1.5 g/kg/day via oral gavage and a dose of 45 mg/kg/day via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Three control groups, including a positive control, diabetic control (DC), and nondiabetic rats as a normal control group (NC), received metformin (200 mg/kg/day), normal saline, and citrate buffer, respectively. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured at baseline (week 0) and after 4 weeks of treatment. Moreover, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at the end of the study to determine glucose tolerance. RESULTS: The results showed that FBG levels were significantly decreased by -66% (-221 ± 65 mg/dL, p = 0.01), -40% (-114 ± 46 mg/dL, p = 0.02), and - 72% (-191 ± 68 mg/dL, p = 0.01) in trehalose-oral, trehalose-i.p., and metformin groups, respectively, after 4 weeks of administration. Evaluating the results of glucose tolerance test and analysis of corresponding areas under the glucose curve (AUCglucose) over 180 min indicated that glucose tolerance was significantly improved in the trehalose-i.p. group (p = 0.03) compared to DC group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that trehalose administered via i.p. route might reduce FBG levels and improve glycemic control in STZ-induced diabetic rats.