Nephroprotective and Anti-Diabetic Potential of Beta vulgaris L. Root (Beetroot) Methanolic Extract in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease associated with several complications, including that of kidney disease. Plant-based dietary products have shown promise in mitigating these effects to improve kidney function and prevent tissue damage. This study assessed the possible favorable effects of beetroot extract (BE) in improving kidney function and preventing tissue damage in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was induced using a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ). Both control and rats with pre-established T2DM were divided into six groups (each consisting of eight rats). All treatments were given by gavage and continued for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose levels, serum fasting insulin levels, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), serum triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, serum and urinary albumin, and creatinine and urea levels were measured. Apart from this, glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukine-6 in the kidney homogenates of all groups of rats were measured, and the histopathological evaluation of the kidney was also performed. Results: It was observed that treatment with BE increased body weight significantly (p ≤ 0.05) to be similar to that of control groups. Fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR levels, and lipid profile in the plasma of the pre-established T2DM rats groups decreased to p ≤ 0.05 in the BE-treated rats as the BE concentration increased. Treatment with BE also improved the renal levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, urinary albumin, and serum creatinine and urea levels. Unlike all other groups, only the kidney tissues of the T2DM + BE (500 mg/kg) rats group showed normal kidney tissue structure, which appears to be similar to those found in the kidney tissues of the control rats groups. Conclusion: we found that streptozotocin administration disturbed markers of kidney dysfunction. However, Beta vulgaris L. root extract reversed these changes through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic mechanisms.

Evaluation of Antidiabetic Effect of Combined Leaf and Seed Extracts of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) on Alloxan-Induced Diabetes in Mice: A Biochemical and Histological Study.

Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) is a medicinal plant rich in biologically active compounds. The aim of the present study was to screen M. oleifera methanolic leaf (L) extract, seed (S) extract, and a combined leaf/seed extract (2L : 1S ratio) for antidiabetic and antioxidant activities in mice following administration at a dose level of 500 mg/kg of body weight/day. Diabetes was induced by alloxan administration. Mice were treated with the extracts for 1 and 3 months and compared with the appropriate control. At the end of the study period, the mice were euthanized and pancreas, liver, kidney, and blood samples were collected for the analysis of biochemical parameters and histopathology. The oral administration of the combined L/S extract significantly reduced fasting blood glucose to normal levels compared with L or S extracts individually; moreover, a significant decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, liver enzymes, and oxidant markers was observed, with a concomitant increase in antioxidant biomarkers. Thus, the combined extract has stronger antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant properties than the individual extracts. The histopathological results also support the biochemical parameters, showing recovery of the pancreas, liver, and kidney tissue. The effects of the combined L/S extracts persisted throughout the study period tested. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antihyperlipidemic effects of a combined L/S extract of M. oleifera in an alloxan-induced diabetic model in mice. Our results suggest the potential for developing a natural potent antidiabetic drug from M. oleifera; however, clinical studies are required.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Protein from Moringa oleifera Seeds and Its Impact on Techno-Functional Properties.

Plant proteins can be an important alternative to animal proteins subject to minor modification to address sustainability issues. The impact of ultrasound application on the yield, techno-functional properties, and molecular characteristics of protein extracted from Moringa oleifera seeds was studied. For this purpose, a central composite design (CCD) was applied to optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) parameters such as amplitude (25-75%), solute-to-solvent ratio (1:10-1:30), and pH (9-13) for obtaining the maximum protein yield. At the optimized conditions of 75% amplitude, 1:20 solute-to-solvent ratio, and 11 pH, a protein yield of 39.12% was obtained in the UAE process. Moreover, the best sonication time at optimized conditions was 20 min, which resulted in about 150% more extraction yield in comparison to conventional extraction (CE). The techno-functional properties, for instance, solubility, water (WHC)- and oil-holding capacity (OHC), and emulsifying and foaming properties of the protein obtained from UAE and CE were also compared. The functional properties revealed high solubility, good WHC and OHC, and improved emulsifying properties for protein obtained from UAE. Although protein from UAE provided higher foam formation, foaming stability was significantly lower.

Co-exposure to commercial food product ingredient E341 and E551 triggers cytotoxicity in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Several nano-toxicological studies have assessed the prospective health risks of engineered nanostructures. Still, nanoscale ingredients from food products are not explored well, and only a few have attended to the possible effects of food additive-based nanoparticles in food. The physicochemical properties of food additives and their fate on human health are still unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we examined the physicochemical characteristics of food product isolate E341/E551. Additionally, we assessed the consequence of these nanoscale E341 and E551 as co-exposure on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images revealed that food product isolate (E341/E551) consists of nanoscale particles. The E551 and E341 have 20-50 nm and 70-200 nm diameters, respectively. Co-exposure of food additives SiO2 (E551) and Tricalcium phosphate (E341) effect on the cell viability, morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of hMSCs were studied. The cell viability reduction, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, and ROS generation in E341/E551 co-exposed cells were observed. Our study suggests that E341/E551 co-exposure elevated the ROS level and mitochondrial membrane potential depletion at a high dose. The oxidative stress-related genes MDM3, TNFSF10, and POR have exhibited significant upregulation in the E341/E551 treatment group. These results conclude that long-term over-exposure to E341/E551 may be triggers health risks in a human. Further in vivo studies are required for food industry implications due to nanoscale ingredients in E341 and E551.

Knowledge and behaviors of using vitamin D to boost immunity against COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has globally impacted all aspects of life since its emergence and spread. There is a strong biological assumption and progressing epidemiological data supporting the role of vitamin D (VD) in COVID-19 infection. This study aims to determine the knowledge about VD supplements to boost immunity against COVID-19 and if participation in specific behaviors has increased the consumption of VD supplements during social distance restriction in Saudi Arabia (SA) in May 2021. This cross-sectional study used a structured online questionnaire for 2369 SA people, including demographic characteristics and knowledge about VD supplements to boost immunity against COVID-19 showed that there was a significant association between sex and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) (P = .000), and having VDD was strongly associated with having another vitamin deficiency (P = .008). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between VDD and cardiovascular (P = .027) and respiratory diseases (P = .019). Almost half of the participants used VD supplements to reduce or heal their COVID-19 symptoms. The adverse association between having VDD and understanding of COVID-19 symptoms was statistically significant (P = .01). Ginger is commonly used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of VD. The administration of VD is now known to be of physiological significance for general health, and evidence suggesting the beneficial role of VD in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases, particularly infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, is increasing.

Ocimum basilicum L. Methanol Extract Enhances Mitochondrial Efficiency and Decreases Adipokine Levels in Maturing Adipocytes Which Regulate Macrophage Systemic Inflammation.

Excessive storage of lipids in visceral or ectopic sites stimulates adipokine production, which attracts macrophages. This process determines the pro- and anti-inflammatory response regulation in adipose tissue during obesity-associated systemic inflammation. The present study aimed to identify the composition of Ocimum basilicum L. (basil) seed extract and to determine its bio-efficacy on adipocyte thermogenesis or fatty acid oxidation and inhibition of lipid accumulation and adipokine secretion. Ocimum basilicum L. seed methanol extract (BSME) was utilized to analyze the cytotoxicity vs. control; lipid accumulation assay (oil red O and Nile red staining), adipogenesis and mitochondrial-thermogenesis-related gene expression vs. vehicle control were analyzed by PCR assay. In addition, vehicle control and BSME-treated adipocytes condition media were collected and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage to identify the macrophage polarization. The results shown that the active components present in BSME did not produce significant cytotoxicity in preadipocytes or macrophages in the MTT assay. Furthermore, oil red O and Nile red staining assay confirmed that 80 and 160 µg/dL concentrations of BSME effectively arrested lipid accumulation and inhibited adipocyte maturation, when compared with tea polyphenols. Gene expression level of adipocyte hyperplasia (CEBPα, PPARγ) and lipogenesis (LPL)-related genes have been significantly (p ≤ 0.05) downregulated, and mitochondrial-thermogenesis-associated genes (PPARγc1α, UCP-1, prdm16) have been significantly (p ≤ 0.001) upregulated. The BSME-treated, maturing, adipocyte-secreted proteins were detected with a decreased protein level of leptin, TNF-α, IL-6 and STAT-6, which are associated with insulin resistance and macrophage recruitment. The "LPS-stimulated macrophage" treated with "BSME-treated adipocytes condition media", shown with significant (p ≤ 0.001) decrease in metabolic-inflammation-related proteins-such as PGE-2, MCP-1, TNF-α and NF-κB-were majorly associated with the development of foam cell formation and progression of atherosclerotic lesion. The present findings concluded that the availability of active principles in basil seed effectively inhibit adipocyte hypertrophy, macrophage polarization, and the inflammation associated with insulin resistance and thrombosis development. Ocimum basilicum L. seed may be useful as a dietary supplement to enhance fatty acid oxidation, which aids in overcoming metabolic complications.

Beta vulgaris rubra L. (Beetroot) Peel Methanol Extract Reduces Oxidative Stress and Stimulates Cell Proliferation via Increasing VEGF Expression in H2O2 Induced Oxidative Stressed Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

The antioxidant capacity of polyphenols and flavonoids present in dietary agents aids in arresting the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protecting endothelial smooth muscle cells from oxidative stress/induced necrosis. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra L.; BVr) is a commonly consumed vegetable representing a rich source of antioxidants. Beetroot peel's bioactive compounds and their role in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are still under-researched. In the present study, beetroot peel methanol extract (BPME) was prepared, and its effect on the bio-efficacy, nuclear integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and vascular cell growth, and immunoregulation-related gene expression levels in HUVECs with induced oxidative stress were analysed. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) results confirmed that BPME contains 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (32.6%), methyl pyruvate (15.13%), furfural (9.98%), and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-Pyran-4-one (12.4%). BPME extract effectively enhanced cell proliferation and was confirmed by MTT assay; the nuclear integrity was confirmed by propidium iodide (PI) staining assay; the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was confirmed by JC-1 staining assay. Annexin V assay confirmed that BPME-treated HUVECs showed 99% viable cells, but only 39.8% viability was shown in HUVECs treated with H2O2 alone. In addition, BPME treatment of HUVECs for 48 h reduced mRNA expression of lipid peroxide (LPO) and increased NOS-3, Nrf-2, GSK-3ß, GPX, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular cell growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression levels. We found that BPME treatment decreased proinflammatory (nuclear factor-κß (F-κß), tissue necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)) and vascular inflammation (intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), EDN1, IL-1ß)-related mRNA expressions. In conclusion, beetroot peel treatment effectively increased vascular smooth cell growth factors and microtubule development, whereas it decreased vascular inflammatory regulators. BPME may be beneficial for vascular smooth cell regeneration, tissue repair and anti-ageing potential.