Extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers ameliorates hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and improves ß-cell function in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The art of Ayurveda and the traditional healing system in India have reflected the ethnomedicinal importance of the plant Woodfordia fruticosa Kurtz, which demonstrates its vast usage in the Ayurvedic preparations as well as in the management of diabetes by the traditional healers. AIMS OF STUDY: The study aimed to ascertain the antidiabetic potential of W. fruticosa flower methanolic extract (WF) on Streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by STZ-nicotinamide and thereafter diabetic rats were treated with three different doses of WF (100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight) respectively and glibenclamide as a positive control. Biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide levels were measured with oxidative stress markers. Furthermore, histology of liver and pancreas was carried out to evaluate glycogen content and ß-cell structures. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were performed on kidney and pancreas tissues to determine renal Bcl-2, pancreatic insulin and glucose transporter (GLUT-2, 4) protein expression in all the experimental groups. RESULTS: The acute toxicity study showed non-toxic nature of all the three doses of WF. Further, studies on diabetic rats exhibited anti-hyperglycemic effects by upregulating serum insulin and C-peptide levels. Similarly, WF shown to ameliorate oxidative stress by downregulating LPO levels and augmenting the antioxidant enzyme (ABTS). Furthermore, histopathological analysis demonstrate recovery in the structural degeneration of ß-cells mass of pancreas tissue with increase in the liver glycogen content of the diabetic rats. Interestingly, protective nature of the extract was further revealed by the immunohistochemical study result which displayed upregulation in the insulin and renal Bcl-2 expression, the anti apoptosis protein. Moreover, western blot result have shown slight alteration in the GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 protein expression with the highest dose of WFc treatment, that might have stimulated glucose uptake in the pancreas and played an important role in attenuating the blood glucose levels. CONCLUSION: The overall study result have demonstrated the potential of WF in the management of diabetes and its related complications, thus warrants further investigation on its major compounds with in depth mechanistic studies at molecular level.

Wound-healing potential of the fruit extract of Phaleria macrocarpa.

The wound-healing potential of Phaleria macrocarpa was evaluated by monitoring the levels of inflammatory mediators, collagen, and antioxidant enzymes. Experimentally, two-centimeter-wide full-thickness-deep skin excision wounds were created on the posterior neck area of the rats. The wounds were topically treated with gum acacia as a vehicle in the control group, intrasite gel in the reference group, and 100 and 200 mg/mL P. macrocarpa fruit extract in the treatment group. Granulation tissues were excised on the 15th day and were further processed for histological and biochemical analyzes. Wound healing was evaluated by measuring the contractions and protein contents of the wounds. Cellular redistribution and collagen deposition were assessed morphologically using Masson's trichrome stain. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, along with malondialdehyde (MDA) level were determined in skin tissue homogenates of the dermal wounds. Serum levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were evaluated in all the animals. A significant decrease in wound area was caused by a significant increase in TGF-ß1 level in the treated groups. Decrease in TNF-α level and increase in the collagen formation were also observed in the treated groups. Topical treatment with P. macrocarpa fruit extract increased the SOD and CAT activities in the healing wounds, thereby significantly increasing MDA level. The topical treatment with P. macrocarpa fruit extract showed significant healing effect on excision wounds and demonstrated an important role in the inflammation process by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby accelerating the wound healing process and reducing tissue injury.

Insights into the antiatherogenic molecular mechanisms of andrographolide against Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Atherosclerosis is the commonest and most important vascular disease. Andrographolide (AND) is the main bioactive component of the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata and is used in traditional medicine. This study was aimed to evaluate the antiatherogenic effect of AND against atherosclerosis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis in White New Zealand rabbits. Thirty rabbits were divided into five groups as follows: G1, normal group; G2-5, were orally challenged with P. gingivalis five times a week over 12 weeks; G2, atherogenic control group; G3, standard group treated with atorvastatin (AV) 5 mg/kg; and G4 and G5, treatment groups treated with AND 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively over 12 weeks. Serums were subjected to antioxidant enzymatic and anti-inflammatory activities, and the aorta was subjected to histological analyses. Groups treated with AND showed a significant reversal of liver and renal biochemical changes, compared with the atherogenic control group. In the same groups, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total glutathione (GSH) levels in serum were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA)) levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, treated groups with AV and AND showed significant decrease in the level of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 compared with the atherogenic control group. In aortic homogenate, the level of nitrotyrosine was significantly increased, while the level of MCP1 was significantly decreased in AV and AND groups compared with the atherogenic control group. In addition, staining the aorta with Sudan IV showed a reduction in intimal thickening plaque in AV and AND groups compared with the atherogenic control group. AND has showed an antiatherogenic property as well as the capability to reduce lipid, liver, and kidney biomarkers in atherogenic serum that prevents atherosclerosis complications caused by P. gingivalis.

Gastroprotective effects of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal hemorrhagic lesions in rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Corchorus olitorius is a medicinal plant traditionally utilized as an antifertility, anti-convulsive, and purgative agent. This study aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective effect of an ethanolic extract of C. olitorius against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in adult Sprague Dawley rats. METHODS: The rats were divided into seven groups according to their pretreatment: an untreated control group, an ulcer control group, a reference control group (20 mg/kg omeprazole), and four experimental groups (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg of extract). Carboxymethyl cellulose was the vehicle for the agents. Prior to the induction of gastric ulcers with absolute ethanol, the rats in each group were pretreated orally. An hour later, the rats were sacrificed, and gastric tissues were collected to evaluate the ulcers and to measure enzymatic activity. The tissues were subjected to histological and immunohistochemical evaluations. RESULTS: Compared with the extensive mucosal damage in the ulcer control group, gross evaluation revealed a marked protection of the gastric mucosa in the experimental groups, with significantly preserved gastric wall mucus. In these groups, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and reduced (P < 0.05), respectively. In addition to the histologic analyses (HE and periodic acid-Schiff staining), immunohistochemistry confirmed the protection through the upregulation of Hsp70 and the downregulation of Bax proteins. The gastroprotection of the experimental groups was comparable to that of the reference control medicine omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reports the gastroprotective property of an ethanolic extract of C. olitorius against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal hemorrhagic lesions in rats.