Antihypertensive, antidyslipidemic, and renoprotective effects of Bursera simaruba on metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is associated with the development of chronic kidney disease. Bursera simaruba "chaca" is a medicinal plant used in Mexico for hypertension and empirical therapy. In this study, were examined the effects of ethanol extract of B. simaruba on metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: For induction of metabolic syndrome, 20% fructose was used, and it was administered in the water and food to male Wistar rats for 12 weeks, after administering ethanol extract of B. simaruba intragastrically (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks, blood pressure was determined. In plasma, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, angiotensin II, oxide nitric, and angiotensin 1-7 were quantified. In the kidney was performed histological study and the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes was quantified. Results: Rats with metabolic syndrome developed obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and kidney damage characterized by proliferative glomerulonephritis, necrosis, and reduced activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. These alterations were significantly ameliorated by ethanol extract of B. simaruba. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of B. simaruba showed antidyslipidemic, antihypertensive, anti-oxidant, and renoprotective effects.

Photoactivatable bis(thiosemicarbazone) derivatives for copper-64 radiotracer synthesis.

In recent years, copper-64 and copper-67 have been considered as a useful theranostic pair in nuclear medicine, due to their favourable and complementary decay properties. As 67Cu and 64Cu are chemically identical, development of both existing and new bifunctional chelators for 64Cu imaging agents can be readily adapted for the 67Cu-radionuclide. In this study, we explored the use of photoactivatable copper chelators based on the asymmetric bis(thiosemicarbazone) scaffold, H2ATSM/en, for the photoradiolabelling of protein. Photoactivatable 64CuATSM-derivatives were prepared by both direct synthesis and transmetallation from the corresponding natZn complex. Then, irradiation with UV light in the presence of a protein of interest in a pH buffered aqueous solution afforded the 64Cu-labelled protein conjugates in decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 86.9 ± 1.0% via the transmetallation method and 35.3 ± 1.7% from the direct radiolabelling method. This study successfully demonstrates the viability of photochemically induced conjugation methods for the development of copper-based radiotracers for potential applications in diagnostic positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy.

Evaluation of the Antidiabetic Potential of Extracts of Urtica dioica, Apium graveolens, and Zingiber officinale in Mice, Zebrafish, and Pancreatic ß-Cell.

Medicinal plants are commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, particularly as they contain flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The present study aims to investigate the activities of a polyherbal formulation made from Urtica dioica, Apium graveolens, and Zingiber officinale (UAZ) against streptozotocin-nicotinamide ((STZ-NA)-induced type 2 diabetes in CD1 mice, glucose-induced type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in zebrafish, and high glucose-induced damage in RINm5F pancreatic ß-cells. In fasting mice, plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and lipid profiles were significantly increased, whereas insulin, enzymatic antioxidants, and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes were altered significantly in diabetic mice. Zebrafish had similar glucose levels, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles compared to mice. The study investigated the effects of the extract in enhancing cell viability, insulin secretion, and reducing lipid peroxidation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in RINm5F cells damaged by high glucose. All the above biochemical parameters were enhanced in both mice and zebrafish treated; the combined extract UAZ normalized all the biochemical parameters. The medicinal plant extracts, used either separately or in combination, ameliorated the adverse effect of glucose on cell viability and functionality of beta-RINm5F cells.

Identification of lupeol produced by Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaf callus culture.

The lupeol detection in callus of Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaves is discussed. Leaf segments previously treated with sodium hypochlorite, ethanol, and distilled water were placed in MS basal medium (Murashige and Skoog) for 7 days. Next, callus induction were done in two complemented MS medium for 6 weeks. Then, callus propagation were performed in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for 50 days. Fresh callus were extracted every 10 days in an ultrasonic bath using ethyl acetate (1.0 g/10 mL). The identification was carried out by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) using selected ion monitoring (SIM) acquisition mode with characteristic ions of lupeol. The results obtained indicate the occurrence of lupeol in callus extract after twenty days of proliferation. These findings could be use in subsequent scale-up studies for biomass production containing this active compound in order to replace conventional methods.

Verbesina crocata: A pharmacognostic study for the treatment of wound healing.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Verbesina crocata (Cav.) Less. (Arnica or Capitaneja) is an endemic plant from Mexico restricted to the western part of the country. The aerial parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and burns. The objective of this investigation was to carry out a pharmacognostic study of V. crocata and establish markers that allow for the recognition of the characteristics of the plant and validate its traditional use. The study includes anatomical and chemical characteristics of the plant as well as evaluations of its antioxidant capacity and wound healing ability in a murine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anatomical study of V. crocata was performed on the middle part of the leaf and stem. A methanolic extract of this species (VcME) was obtained by methanolic maceration of the aerial parts. Subsequently, a partition of the VcME was made to obtain a hexanic fraction (VcH). The phytochemical preliminary screening and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) of the VcME and VcH were performed. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were quantified. The wound healing capacity of the methanolic extract was determined in CD-1 mice by the healing rate, the tensiometric method, and histological analysis. RESULTS: The anatomical study of V. crocata showed the presence of two types of secretory structures and their position on the leaves. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein and trichomes are potentially useful for recognition of the species. Chemical compounds detected by HPLC-ESI/MS reveal the presence of sitosterol glycoside and catechin derivatives as principal constituents of V. crocata. The VcME showed low antioxidant capacity and total phenolic. V. crocata had a similar healing effect to Recoveron® in the tensiometric method, but the rate of healing was higher. According to the histological analysis, the treatment of V. crocata promoted the remodelling phase 15 days after the incisional wound. CONCLUSION: This is the first pharmacognostic study of this species that covers the plant anatomy, chemical content and biological properties related to its traditional use. V. crocata favours wound healing according to physical and histological evaluations. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein, trichomes and catechin glycosides are potentially useful for the recognition of this species.

Comparison of Survival Estimates Following Recurrence, Persistence, or Second Primary Malignancy in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated survival among patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) after recurrence, persistence, and second primary malignancies (SPMs). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Patients were treated at a tertiary cancer center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with OPSCC who had completed treatment between 2001 and 2017 were included. Survival estimates of 4 groups of patients were calculated: (1) patients who were disease free after initial treatment, (2) patients who had persistent disease, (3) those with recurrent disease, and (4) patients with SPMs. Cox proportional hazard models and parametric survival analyses (using Weibull distributions) were used to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) and time ratios (TRs). RESULTS: The cohort included 364 patients. The crude overall SPM prevalence was 8.2%. Mean overall survival (OS) time in years for patients who remained disease free after treatment was 4.02 years. Among patients who experienced recurrence, the recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 2.58 years while their mean (SD) OS was 3.67 (2.7) years. Participants who experienced persistence had a mean (SD) OS of 1.67 (1.68) years. Patients with observed SPMs had a mean (SD) OS of 6.39 (4.06) years since their primary cancer but shortened survivals of 1.75 (2.34) years since the secondary diagnosis. Differences were present even after accounting for human papillomavirus (HPV) and smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings stress the importance of active surveillance as per current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, irrespective of the HPV status or smoking status. Prospective studies with a larger number of SPM cases and longer follow-up are needed to validate survival trends even beyond 5 years.

Distribution of chemical residues in the beehive compartments and their transfer to the honeybee brood.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) is one of the most important crop and wild plant pollinators, playing an essential role in the agricultural production and the natural ecosystems. However, the number of honeybee colonies is decreasing alarmingly, which has motivated extensive research on the factors affecting their development and survival in some regions. Honeybees' exposure to pesticides and other chemicals has been identified as one of the causes of their decline. The present study evaluates the distribution of plant protection products, veterinary treatments and environmental contaminants inside the beehive, their persistence and their migration to the bee brood. During the five-month sampling period, only amitraz was applied to the colonies. Samples of beeswax, beebread (processed pollen) and bee brood were extracted and analyzed using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS with a multiresidue method. The results showed the presence of 31 chemical residues in the samples. The highest concentrations of residues were detected in the beeswax and corresponded to amitraz (expressed as the sum of DMF and DMPF), coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate, with total concentrations of up to 16,858, 7102 and 1775 µg kg-1, respectively. These and other veterinary treatments were found to accumulate in the beeswax and migrate to other beehive matrices such as beebread and bee brood. Plant protection products used in agriculture were also found in the beehive matrices, especially in the beebread. Five different chemical residues (acrinathrin, amitraz, coumaphos, cypermethrin and tau-fluvalinate) were found in bee brood samples at concentration levels ranging from 1 to 167 µg kg-1. These findings reveal that bee brood reared in field conditions is in fact exposed to plant protection products and veterinary residues through direct contact with contaminated wax and via beebread although they had not been applied to the beehive.

Oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation markers in patients with chronic kidney disease in hemodialysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly common public health problem that increases the risk of death because of cardiovascular complications by 2-3 times compared with the general population. This research concerns a prospective, randomized, double-blind study in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. The participants were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the study group (group A; 46 patients) received 4 capsules (2.4 g) of omega-3 fatty acids daily during the 12-week intervention, while patients in the control group (group B; 47 patients) received 4 capsules of paraffin oil. The patients' general characteristics, nutritional indicators, renal disease markers and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) were evaluated. No differences were found between the general characteristics of the patients (P < 0.05), and no differences were shown in the nutritional indicators and markers of kidney disease (P < 0.05). Patients in group A showed significant decreases in levels of C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-α, and the IL-10/IL-6 ratio after 12 weeks of supplementation (P < 0.05). Patients in group B did not show any significant changes in concentrations of inflammatory markers during the intervention (P < 0.05). In conclusion, oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids produces a significant decrease in the concentrations of inflammation markers in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Novelty Oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids produced significant decreases in the concentrations of inflammation markers. This supplementation could be given to patients with uremic syndrome and coronary heart disease to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Evaluation of the presence of Paenibacillus larvae in commercial bee pollen using PCR amplification of the gene for tRNACys.

American foulbrood (AFB) caused by Paenibacillus larvae is the most destructive honeybee bacterial disease and its dissemination via commercial bee pollen is an important mechanism for the spread of this bacterium. Because Mexico imports bee pollen from several countries, we developed a tRNACys-PCR strategy and complemented that strategy with MALDI-TOF MS and amplicon-16S rRNA gene analysis to evaluate the presence of P. larvae in pollen samples. P. larvae was not detected when the tRNACys-PCR approach was applied to spore-forming bacterial colonies obtained from three different locations and this result was validated by bacterial identification via MALDI-TOF MS. The genera identified in the latter analysis were Bacillus (fourteen species) and Paenibacillus (six) species. However, amplicon-16S rRNA gene analysis for taxonomic composition revealed a low presence of Paenibacillaceae with 0.3 to 16.2% of relative abundance in the commercial pollen samples analyzed. Within this family, P. larvae accounted for 0.01% of the bacterial species present in one sample. Our results indicate that the tRNACys-PCR, combined with other molecular tools, will be a useful approach for identifying P. larvae in pollen samples and will assist in controlling the spread of the pathogen.

Glycine Increases Insulin Sensitivity and Glutathione Biosynthesis and Protects against Oxidative Stress in a Model of Sucrose-Induced Insulin Resistance.

Oxidative stress and redox status play a central role in the link between insulin resistance (IR) and lipotoxicity in metabolic syndrome. This mechanistic link may involve alterations in the glutathione redox state. We examined the effect of glycine supplementation to diet on glutathione biosynthesis, oxidative stress, IR, and insulin cell signaling in liver from sucrose-fed (SF) rats characterized by IR and oxidative stress. Our hypothesis is that the correction of glutathione levels by glycine treatment leads to reduced oxidative stress, a mechanism associated with improved insulin signaling and IR. Glycine treatment decreases the levels of oxidative stress markers in liver from SF rats and increases the concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and γ-glutamylcysteine and the amount of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), a key enzyme of GSH biosynthesis in liver from SF rats. In liver from SF rats, glycine also decreases the insulin-induced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (ISR-1) in serine residue and increases the phosphorylation of insulin receptor ß-subunit (IR-ß) in tyrosine residue. Thus, supplementing diets with glycine to correct GSH deficiency and to reduce oxidative stress provides significant metabolic benefits to SF rats by improving insulin sensitivity.

Viability of honeybee colonies exposed to sunflowers grown from seeds treated with the neonicotinoids thiamethoxam and clothianidin.

In this study, honeybee colonies were monitored in a field study conducted on sunflowers grown from seeds treated with the systemic neonicotinoids thiamethoxam or clothianidin. This field trial was carried out in different representative growing areas in Spain over a beekeeping season. The health and development of the colonies was assessed by measuring factors that have a significant influence on their strength and overwintering ability. The parameters assessed were: colony strength (adult bees), brood development, amount of pollen and honey stores and presence and status of the queen. The concentration of residues (clothianidin and thiamethoxam) in samples of beebread and in adult bees was at the level of ng.g-1; in the ranges of 0.10-2.89 ng g-1 and 0.05-0.12 ng g-1; 0.10-0.37 ng g-1 and 0.01-0.05 ng g-1, respectively. Multivariate models were applied to evaluate the interaction among factors. No significant differences were found between the honeybee colonies of the different treatment groups, either exposed or not to the neonicotinoids. The seasonal development of the colonies was affected by the environmental conditions which, together with the initial strength of the bee colonies and the characteristics of the plots, had a significant effect on the different variables studied.

Epigenetics in Multiple Sclerosis: Molecular Mechanisms and Dietary Intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, neurodegenerative demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Unfortunately, MS causes important disability in young adults and its prevalence is increasing. While the etiology of MS etiology is not completely understood, it seems to be a multifactorial entity that is influenced by both genetic and epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic mechanisms add or remove different chemical groups for the activation or inhibition of gene expression to block the production of proinflammatory proteins. It is truly important to identify the factors that can trigger epigenetic changes in MS to complement the therapeutic approach, prevent disability and improve patients quality of life. Here, we have conducted a review of external factors that influence in MS and their epigenetic mechanisms. For example, hypomethylation can promote changes in the myelin and subsequent autoimmune reactions. Therapeutic tools can be used, including the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A, which ameliorates demyelinating diseases in rodents. However, drugs are not only the therapeutic option: recent studies have also evaluated the therapeutic potential of several bioactive dietary components in neurodegeneration and axonal dysfunction. Numerous food-derived molecules exert important metabolic actions. These molecules include plant polyphenols such as catechins and isoflavones, Ω-3 and Ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, short-chain fatty acids, sulfur-containing compounds such as dally sulfide and other compounds. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components in the diet involve transcription factors as well. However, many external factors have shown to influence MS, although no specific epigenetic mechanisms are known. CONCLUSION: In this review, we gather both established and new evidences about the genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors influencing MS and the dietary components that could modulate MS relapse and progression.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes Following Postsurgical Radioactive Iodine Versus External Beam Radiation in Stage IV Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of well-powered data regarding outcomes in stage IV differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) treated with postsurgical radiation. The objective of this study was to examine survival in patients with stage IV papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) who received radioactive iodine (RAI), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or neither following surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data collected from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) yielded 11,832 patients with stage IV DTC who underwent primary surgical treatment between 2002 and 2012. Patients were stratified by histology and sub-stage. Fully parametric, multilevel survival-time models were used to evaluate survival outcomes in three adjuvant treatment groups: RAI, EBRT, or no adjuvant radiation. Hazard ratios (HR) and time ratios (TR) were calculated against patients who did not receive radiation. All models were adjusted for demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 61.6 years (SD = 11.6), and 57.5% were female. Patients who received EBRT had significantly higher 5- and 10-year hazards of death in several PTC sub-stages (10-year HRPTC Stage IV-A = 2.12 [confidence interval (CI) 1.79-2.52]; HRPTC Stage IV-B = 2.03 [CI 1.33-3.10]). For stage IV-B PTC requiring EBRT, lifespan after diagnosis was shortened by a factor of 3 when compared to patients who did not receive radiation (TRPTC Stage IV-B = 0.32 [CI 0.16-0.62]). In contrast, RAI was significantly associated with improved 5- and 10-year survival in both PTC and FTC patients regardless of pathological sub-stage. Large reductions in mortality were observed in patients with FTC who were treated with RAI (HRFTC Stage IV-C = 0.19 [CI 0.06-0.65]). When patients with stage IV-C FTC were treated with RAI, life-span after diagnosis doubled (TRFTC Stage IV-C = 1.98 [CI 1.31-3.00]). CONCLUSIONS: Through the NCDB, this study sought to describe prognosis and survival for adjuvant radiation in stage IV DTC. RAI was associated with improved survival for stage IV DTC. Despite treatment benefits conferred by adjuvant EBRT, indications to treat with EBRT were associated with poorer survival outcomes in patients with advanced-stage DTC, particularly PTC.

Current methods of sedation in dental patients - a systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this systematic literature review is to identify the safest and most effective sedative drugs so as to ensure successful sedation with as few complications as possible. Study DESIGN: A systematic literature review of the PubMed MEDLINE database was carried out using the key words "conscious sedation", "drugs", and "dentistry". A total of 1,827 scientific articles were found, and these were narrowed down to 473 articles after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. These 473 studies were then individually assessed for their suitability for inclusion in this literature review. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were selected due to their rigorous study design and conduciveness to further, more exhaustive analysis. The selected studies included a total of 1,0003 patients classified as ASA I or II. Midazolam was the drug most frequently used for successful sedation in dental surgical procedures. Ketamine also proved very useful when administered intranasally, although some side effects were observed when delivered via other routes of administration. Both propofol and nitrous oxide (N2 O) are also effective sedative drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam is the drug most commonly used to induce moderate sedation in dental surgical procedures, and it is also very safe. Other sedative drugs like ketamine, dexmedetomidine and propofol have also been proven safe and effective; however, further comparative clinical studies are needed to better demonstrate which of these are the safest and most effective

Photoprotective effect of verbascoside from Buddleja cordata in SKH-1 mice exposed to acute and chronic UV-B radiation / Efecto fotoprotector del verbascósido de Buddleja cordata en ratones SKH-1 expuestos de forma aguda y crónica a laradiación UV-B

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is involved in both sunburn and the development of skin cancer, which has a high incidence worldwide. Strategies to reduce these effects include the use of photoprotective substances. The aim of this work was to investigate the photoprotective effect of verbascoside isolated from the methanolic extract of Buddleja cordata (BCME) in SKH-1 mice exposed to acute and chronic UV-B radiation. The mouse dorsal area was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically for diagnosis; verbascoside penetration into mouse skin was investigated in vivo by the tape stripping method. After acute UV-B exposure, 100 percent of irradiated mice that had been protected with verbascoside showed no signs of sunburn or of inflammatory processes. After chronic exposure, 100 percent of unprotected mice showed skin carcinomas; in contrast, in mice topically treated with either BCME or verbascoside, the presence of lesions was decreased by 90 percent. These results prove that verbascoside penetrates through the skin of mice and suggest that verbascoside and BCME may potentially prevent photodamage on mice’s skin after acute and chronic UVR exposure.

La radiación ultravioleta (RUV) provoca quemaduras solares y el desarrollo de cáncer de piel. El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar el efecto fotoprotector del verbascósido obtenido del extracto metanólico de Buddleja cordata (EMBC) en ratones SKH-1 expuestos a RUV-B de manera aguda y crónica. El diagnóstico histológico se llevó a cabo en la piel de la zona dorsal de los ratones. La penetración del verbascósido fue cuantificada mediante la técnica de la cinta adhesiva. En el experimento agudo, el 100 por ciento de los ratones protegidos con verbascósido no evidenciaron signos de quemadura ni procesos inflamatorios. En el experimento crónico los ratones sin protección e irradiados presentaron carcinomas cutáneos. En contraste en los ratones protegidos con EMBC o verbascósido las lesiones disminuyeron un 90 por ciento en ambos grupos. El verbascósido penetró en la piel del ratón. Los resultados sugieren que el EMBC y el verbascósido previenen el fotodaño en la piel de ratones expuestos de forma aguda o crónica a la RUV.

Chloride regulates leaf cell size and water relations in tobacco plants.

Chloride (Cl(-)) is a micronutrient that accumulates to macronutrient levels since it is normally available in nature and actively taken up by higher plants. Besides a role as an unspecific cell osmoticum, no clear biological roles have been explicitly associated with Cl(-) when accumulated to macronutrient concentrations. To address this question, the glycophyte tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Habana) has been treated with a basal nutrient solution supplemented with one of three salt combinations containing the same cationic balance: Cl(-)-based (CL), nitrate-based (N), and sulphate+phosphate-based (SP) treatments. Under non-saline conditions (up to 5 mM Cl(-)) and no water limitation, Cl(-) specifically stimulated higher leaf cell size and led to a moderate increase of plant fresh and dry biomass mainly due to higher shoot expansion. When applied in the 1-5 mM range, Cl(-) played specific roles in regulating leaf osmotic potential and turgor, allowing plants to improve leaf water balance parameters. In addition, Cl(-) also altered water relations at the whole-plant level through reduction of plant transpiration. This was a consequence of a lower stomatal conductance, which resulted in lower water loss and greater photosynthetic and integrated water-use efficiency. In contrast to Cl(-), these effects were not observed for essential anionic macronutrients such as nitrate, sulphate, and phosphate. We propose that the abundant uptake and accumulation of Cl(-) responds to adaptive functions improving water homeostasis in higher plants.

Effect of chronic administration of hexane extract of Byrsonima crassifolia seed on B-cell and pancreatic oxidative parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.

BACKGROUND: In Mexican traditional medicine, the seeds of Byrsonima crassifolia have been used in the treatment of diabetes, rheumatism and for wound healing. The aim was to evaluate the effect of seeds of B. crassifolia on insulin release from the pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated the beneficial effect of seeds B. crassifolia streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats. Insulin level; insulin sensitivity index, insulin content in pancreas, malonaldehyde, nitric oxide contents, oxidative stress parameters were assayed. Serum glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method. To determine the insulin releasing activity, after extract treatment, the pancreas was excised. Pancreatic sections were processed for examination of insulin-releasing activity using an imunocytochemistry kit. RESULTS: Administration of the hexane extract (200 and 400 mg/kg), exhibited a significant reduction in serum glucose. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the number of beta cells with insulin secretory activity in comparison with intact rats; but treatment with the B. crassifolia seed extract increased significantly the activity of the beta cells in comparison with the diabetic control rats. The extract decreased serum glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and increased insulin release from the beta cells of the pancreas. CONCLUSION: These finding suggest that B. crassifolia seed has beneficial effect for diabetes through decreasing blood glucose and lipid levels, increasing insulin sensitivity index and insulin content, up-regulating antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing lipid peroxidation.

Photoprotection of Buddleja cordata extract against UVB-induced skin damage in SKH-1 hairless mice.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been considerable interest in using botanical agents to prevent skin damage resulting from solar UV-irradiation. Buddleja cordata is a plant that is known as "tepozan". Some people in Mexico use the leaves of this plant to treat tumours, abscesses, sores and burns. The purpose of this study is to investigate the photoprotective properties of Buddleja cordata methanolic extract (BCME) against UVB-induced skin damage in SKH-1 hairless mice at the macroscopic and histological levels. METHODS: BCME was characterised to determine its spectroscopic, chromatographic and antioxidant (DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals) properties. To conduct the photoprotection studies, BCME was applied topically to the skin of SKH-1 mice before acute exposure to UVB for 10 minutes. The murine skin samples were used for macroscopic and histological studies to assess tissue damage. Penetration of active components of BCME into stratum corneum on the dorsal area of mice was investigated in vivo by the tape stripping method. Moreover, genotoxicity of BCME was evaluated in a Vicia faba cell root micronucleus model. RESULTS: BCME displayed absorbance over the entire UVB spectrum, and its principal components included verbascoside and linarin. BCME exhibited antioxidant activity and significantly scavenged hydroxyl radicals. BCME reduced erythema, sunburn cell production, vessel congestion and epidermal thickening of UVB irradiated mouse skin. BCME penetrate the skin of mice. BCME did not exhibit genotoxic activity in the micronucleus test. CONCLUSION: The topical administration of BCME protected against acute UVB-induced damage in mouse SKH-1 skin, and our results suggest that BCME may potentially prevent photodamage.

Ameliorative Effect of Hexane Extract of Phalaris canariensis on High Fat Diet-Induced Obese and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice.

Obesity is one of the major factors to increase various disorders like diabetes. The present paper emphasizes study related to the antiobesity effect of Phalaris canariensis seeds hexane extract (Al-H) in high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese CD1 mice and in streptozotocin-induced mild diabetic (MD) and severely diabetic (SD) mice.AL-H was orally administered to MD and SD mice at a dose of 400 mg/kg once a day for 30 days, and a set of biochemical parameters were studied: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, liver and muscle glycogen, ALP, SGOT, SGPT, glucose-6-phosphatase, glucokinase, hexokinase, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPX activities, and the effect on insulin level. HS-H significantly reduced the intake of food and water and body weight loss as well as levels of blood glucose, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein, oxidative stress, showed a protective hepatic effect, and increased HDL-cholesterol, serum insulin in diabetic mice. The mice fed on the high-fat diet and treated with AL-H showed inhibitory activity on the lipid metabolism decreasing body weight and weight of the liver and visceral adipose tissues and cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver. We conclude that AL-H can efficiently reduce serum glucose and inhibit insulin resistance, lipid abnormalities, and oxidative stress in MD and SD mice. Our results demonstrate an antiobesity effect reducing lipid droplet accumulation in the liver, indicating that its therapeutic properties may be due to the interaction plant components soluble in the hexane extract, with any of the multiple targets involved in obesity and diabetes pathogenesis.