Electrophilic Agonists Modulate the Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin-1 Channels Mediated by Insulin and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Secretion for Glucose Homeostasis.

This pre-clinical study investigated the transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) channels on modulating targets for glucose homeostasis using agonists: the electrophilic agonists, cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), and the non-electrophilic agonist, carvacrol (CRV). A glucose tolerance test was performed on rats. CIN and AITC (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) or CRV (25, 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), and glycemia was measured. In the intestine, Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and disaccharidase activity were evaluated (in vivo and in vitro, respectively). Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro insulin secretion was determined. Islets were used to measure insulin secretion and calcium influx. CIN and AITC improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin secretion in vivo and in vitro. CRV was unable to reduce glycemia. Electrophilic agonists, CIN and AITC, inhibited disaccharidases and acted as secretagogues in the intestine by inducing GLP-1 release in vivo and in vitro and contributed to insulin secretion and glycemia. The effect of CIN on calcium influx in pancreatic islets (insulin secretion) involves voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcium from stores. TRPA1 triggers calcium influx and potentiates intracellular calcium release to induce insulin secretion, suggesting that electrophilic agonists mediate this signaling transduction for the control of glycemia.

Pharmacokinetic Profile Evaluation of Novel Combretastatin Derivative, LASSBio-1920, as a Promising Colorectal Anticancer Agent.

LASSBio-1920 was synthesized due to the poor solubility of its natural precursor, combretastatin A4 (CA4). The cytotoxic potential of the compound against human colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) and non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9) was evaluated, yielding IC50 values of 0.06 and 0.07 µM, respectively. Its mechanism of action was analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry, where LASSBio-1920 was found to induce apoptosis. Molecular docking simulations and the enzymatic inhibition study with wild-type (wt) EGFR indicated enzyme-substrate interactions similar to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We suggest that LASSBio-1920 is metabolized by O-demethylation and NADPH generation. LASSBio-1920 demonstrated excellent absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and high central nervous system (CNS) permeability. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained by predictions indicated that the compound presents zero-order kinetics and, in a human module simulation, accumulates in the liver, heart, gut, and spleen. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained will serve as the basis to initiate in vivo studies regarding LASSBio-1920's antitumor potential.

Bis-Pyrano Prenyl Isoflavone Improves Glucose Homeostasis by Inhibiting Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 in Hyperglycemic Rats.

Isoflavones widely distributed in plants prevent diabetes. This study investigated the in vivo and in vitro effect of 3',4'-dihydroxy-6″,6″,6″',6″'-tetramethylbis(pyrano[2″,3″:5,6::2″',3″':7,8]isoflavone (bis-pyrano prenyl isoflavone) on glucose homeostasis in hyperglycemic rats. The ethyl acetate fraction from aerial parts of Polygala molluginifolia that contain isoflavones was assayed on glucose tolerance, on in vitro maltase activity and on protein glycation. The isoflavone bis-pyrano prenyl isolated from this fraction was investigated on glucose homeostasis. The in vivo action of the isoflavone exhibits an anti-hyperglycemic effect by improving glucose tolerance, augmenting the liver glycogen, inhibiting maltase activity, and stimulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and insulin secretion. The in vitro isoflavone inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) activity since the glucose tolerance was improved in the presence of the isoflavone as much as sitagliptin, an inhibitor of DPP-4. However, the co-incubation with isoflavone and sitagliptin exhibited an additive anti-hyperglycemic action. The isoflavone increased the GLP-1 faster than the positive hyperglycemic group, which shows that the intestine is a potential target. Thus, to clarify the main site of action in which isoflavone improves glucose balance, the in vitro mechanism of action of this compound was tested in intestine using calcium influx as a trigger for the signal pathways for GLP-1 secretion. The isoflavone stimulates calcium influx in intestine and its mechanism involves voltage-dependent calcium channels, phospholipase C, protein kinase C, and stored calcium contributing for GLP-1 secretion. In conclusion, the isoflavone regulates glycaemia by acting mainly in a serum target, the DPP-4 inhibitor. Furthermore, the long-term effect of isoflavone prevents protein glycation. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 92-103, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Incretinomimetic and Insulinomimetic Effect of (2E)-N'-(1'-Naphthyl)-3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzohydrazide for Glycemic Homeostasis.

To characterize the role and the mechanism of action of (2E)-N'-(1'-naphthyl)-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzohydrazide (BZD) on incretin secretion, glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and α-glucosidase activity on intestine, targets for glucose homeostasis. It was assayed on glucose tolerance test (GTT) to analyze GLP-1 secretion and the activity of DPP-4 enzyme in vitro. In skeletal muscle, mechanism of action on glucose uptake was carried out by in vitro experiments. The activity of intestinal disaccharidases was performed after in vivo and in vitro experiments. The compound improved the glucose tolerance around 30%, 25%, and 20% at 15, 30, and 60 min, respectively and potentiated the sitagliptin effect, an inhibitor of the enzyme that removes GLP-1, about 50, 45, and 54% at 15, 30, and 60 min, respectively. Additionally, BZD did not modify the activity of DPP-4 enzyme. The acute effect of BZD on glucose uptake is mediated by increasing GLUT4 expression (around 140%) and its translocation to the plasma membrane in soleus muscle. The genomic effect as well as GLUT4 translocation involve the activation of PI-3K and MAPK pathways and require the microtubules integrity to the complete stimulatory effect of this compound on glucose uptake. Beyond, BZD acts in an alternative target to ameliorate glycaemia, intestinal disaccharidases. In a whole, these data point an incretino- and insulinomimetic effect of the compound for glycemic control.