Moringa concanensis Nimmo extracts ameliorates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and upregulates PPARγ and GLUT4 gene expression in liver and pancreas of streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.

The current study investigates the effects of ethanolic extract of M. concanensis Nimmo leaves (EEMCNL) with respect to its potent protective tissue damage, antioxidant properties in serum, liver and kidney, histopathological evaluation, and PPARγ and GLUT4 gene expression in liver and pancreatic tissue of Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide (STZ-NA) induced diabetic rats. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 5): control; diabetic; diabetic + EEMCNL; control + EEMCNL; and diabetic + glibenclamide. After 45 days of treatment with EEMCNL, MDA levels were significantly decreased in the diabetic-induced group when compared with the STZ-induced diabetic group (P < 0.05). The activities of serum enzymes AST, ALT, ALP, ACP and LDH were significantly decreased in serum and kidney, and increased in liver tissues of the EEMCNL-treated group as compared with the STZ-NA induced diabetic group (P < 0.05). The levels of total protein, urea, creatinine and uric acid observed in the diabetic group returned to normal by administration of EEMCNL (250 mg/kg) as relative to the STZ-NA induced diabetic group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, EEMCNL upregulated PPARγ and GLUT4 expression in liver and pancreatic tissue of the STZ-NA induced diabetic group rats. Taken together, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the hepatoprotective and renoprotective potential of EEMCNL against oxidative stress in the diabetic state, which was evidenced by the capacity of EEMCNL to modulate the antioxidant defence and to decrease lipid peroxidation in these tissues.

Effects of supplementing Barodon, Bacillus subtilis, and Ampbio on growth performance, biochemical metabolites, and hormone levels in Korean native heifers.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing feed additives of Barodon®, effective microorganism® (Bacillus (B.) subtilis), and Ampbio® on the growth performance, blood metabolites, stress, and reproductive hormone levels of Korean native heifers. A total of 48 Korean native heifers were assigned to four groups with 6 heifers in each group. The groups were control, Barodon (0.2%), beneficial microorganism (1%), and Ampbio (1%). Animals in all groups were fed a basal diet composed of selected feed additives and water ad libitum for 99 days. Results showed that there are significant changes in body weight and daily gain in the Ampbio-supplemented group as compared with the control and other feed additives groups (p < 0.05). The increased level of feed intake (7.30 ± 0.03 kg) and feed requirements (10.81 ± 0.52 kg) was observed in the Ampbio-fed group followed by the effective microorganism (EM), Barodon, and control groups. There were no significant changes in albumin, glucose, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and total protein level, but the decreased levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides and the increased level of blood urea nitrogen were noted in the Ampbio-fed group as compared with the control and other feed additive groups. The reduced level of cortisol (p < 0.05) and elevated levels of progesterone and estradiol (p > 0.05) were noted in the Ampbio-fed group as compared to the other feed additive groups. It is therefore concluded that incorporation of Barodon, EM (B. subtilis), and Ampbio in the recommended diet improved the growth and health performance of Korean native heifers.

Anticancer activity of Cyathula prostrata (Linn) Blume against Dalton's lymphomae in mice model.

Cyathula prostrata (Linn) Blume herbs are commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory and pain in Nigeria. The objective of the present study was to assess the antitumor and antioxidant activity of Cyathula prostrata (Linn) Blume in mice model. The treatment of Dalton's lymphoma ascites cells induced tumor by the methanolic extract of Cyathula prostrata was determined at concentration of 100 mg/ kg body weight given orally for 11 days, antitumor activity was assessed by monitoring the mean survival time, body weight, effect on hematological parameters, antioxidant enzyme levels and histopathological evidence. The results showed that the methanolic extract of Cyathula prostrata increased the survival period of animals, decreased the body weight and also altered many hematological markers and also restored the antioxidant enzymes when compared to the mice of the DLA control group. These findings indicate that the methanolic extract of C. prostrata has anti-tumor activity by preventing the lipid peroxidation and thereby promoting the antioxidant systems in Dalton's lymphoma ascites induced mice. So, these extract could be a natural anticancer agent for human health.

Trigonelline attenuates the adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.

Trigonelline is a natural alkaloid mainly found in Trigonella Foenum Graecum (fenugreek) Fabaceae and other edible plants with a variety of medicinal applications. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanism of trigonelline (TG) on the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Trigonelline suppressed lipid droplet accumulation in a concentration (75 and 100 µM) dependent manner. Treatment of adipocyte with of TG down regulates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) and CCAAT element binding protein (C/EBP-α) mRNA expression, which leads to further down regulation of other gene such as adiponectin, adipogenin, leptin, resistin and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) as compared with respective control cells on 5th and 10th day of differentiation. Further, addition of triognelline along with troglitazone to the adipocyte attenuated the troglitazone effects on PPARγ mediated differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Trigonelline might compete against troglitazone for its binding to the PPARγ. In addition, adipocyte treated with trigonelline and isoproterenol separately. Isoproterenol, a lipolytic agent which inhibits the fatty acid synthase and GLUT-4 transporter expression via cAMP mediated pathway, we found that similar magnitude response of fatty acid synthase and GLUT-4 transporter expression in trigonelline treated adipocyte. These results suggest that the trigonelline inhibits the adipogenesis by its influences on the expression PPARγ, which leads to subsequent down regulation of PPAR-γ mediated pathway during adipogenesis. Our findings provide key approach to the mechanism underlying the anti-adipogenic activity of trigonelline.

Free radical scavenging potential of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl fruits extract.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract Lagenaria siceraria (L. siceraria) (Molina) fruit. METHODS: The free radical scavenging activity of the L. siceraria (Molina) fruit extract was assayed by using α,α-diphenyl-ß-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,20-azinobis 3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS), FRAP, reducing power, chelating ability and ß-carotene bleaching assay. RESULTS: The IC(50) values of DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activity was found to be 1.95 mg/mL and 19 mg/mL, respectively. In ferrous chelation assay, the percentage of inhibition was found to be 89.21%. The reducing power of ethanolic extract of L. siceraria (Molina) fruit was 0.068 at 1 mg/mL and increased to 0.192 at 5 mg/mL. The ß-carotene linoleate bleaching assay was 46.7% at 5 mg/mL and antioxidant activity using FRAP at 0.305 for 1 mg/mL to 0.969 for 5 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that L. siceraria (Molina) fruit could be an important sources of natural radical scavengers.