Antioxidant Effect of the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Potentilla indica on Kidney Mitochondria of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. This state may lead to an increase in oxidative stress, which contributes to the development of diabetes complications, including diabetic kidney disease. Potentilla indica is a traditional medicinal herb in Asia, employed in the treatment of several diseases, including DM. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant effect of the ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica both in vitro and on kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Firstly, phytochemicals were identified via UPLC-MS/MS, and their in vitro antioxidant capabilities were evaluated. Subsequently, male Wistar rats were assigned into four groups: normoglycemic control, diabetic control, normoglycemic treated with the extract, and diabetic treated with the extract. At the end of the treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid were estimated. Furthermore, the kidneys were removed and utilized for the determination of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities, mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. The in vitro findings showed that the major phytochemicals present in the extract were phenolic compounds, which exhibited a potent antioxidant activity. Moreover, the administration of the P. indica extract reduced creatinine and BUN levels, ROS production, and lipid peroxidation and improved mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity and GSH-Px, SODk, and CAT activities when compared to the diabetic control group. In conclusion, our data suggest that the ethyl acetate extract of Potentilla indica possesses renoprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress on the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.

Antioxidant effects of silver nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis from the aqueous extract of Eryngium carlinae on the brain mitochondria of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that affects practically all tissues and organs, being the brain one of most susceptible, due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species induced by diabetes. Eryngium carlinae is a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat diabetes, which has already been experimentally shown have hypoglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties. The green synthesis of nanoparticles is a technique that combines plant extracts with metallic nanoparticles, so that the nanoparticles reduce the absorption and distribution time of drugs or compounds, increasing their effectiveness. In this work, the antioxidant effects and mitochondrial function in the brain were evaluated, as well as the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect in serum of both the aqueous extract of the aerial part of E. carlinae, as well as its combination with silver nanoparticles of green synthesis. Administration with both, extract and the combination significantly decreased the production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and restored the activity of superoxide dismutase 2, glutathione peroxidase, and electron transport chain complexes in brain, while that the extract-nanoparticle combination decreased blood glucose and triglyceride levels. The results obtained suggest that both treatments have oxidative activity and restore mitochondrial function in the brain of diabetic rats.

Antilipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of Ethanol Extract of Justicia spicigera in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats.

Oxidative stress is a factor that contributes to the development of complications in diabetes; however, its effects can be counteracted using exogenous antioxidants that are found in some plants, which is why people turn to traditional medicines in the search for therapeutic treatment. Justicia spicigera has been demonstrated to have the capacity to reduce glycemic levels; however, its effects on non-insulin-dependent organs such as the liver have not been reported. During 30 days of administration of Justicia spicigera ethanol extract, the blood glucose and weight of rats were measured every 5 days. Once the treatment was concluded, the rats were sacrificed. Corporal weight, blood glucose, cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides, total lipids, and liver profile were reduced in the diabetic condition and normalized with the application of ethanol extract from J. spicigera (EJS). Additionally, there was a significant increase in catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in the control diabetic rats, a decrease in their activity with the extract administration, and no effect on normoglycemic rats. In conclusion, EJS is considered to be capable of reducing oxidative stress by maintaining diminished lipid and liver function profiles in male Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Eryngium carlinae Ethanol Extract Corrects Lipid Abnormalities in Wistar Rats with Experimental Diabetes.

Abnormalities in lipid metabolism, associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), frequently occur in people with diabetes. Eryngium carlinae is a plant used in traditional medicine to treat lipid abnormalities. The chemical composition and hypolipidemic activity of the ethanolic extract of E. carlinae were analyzed to broaden our knowledge of its mechanism of action. The ethanolic extract of E. carlinae was tested for hypolipidemic activity by oral administration for 40 days. Atorvastatin, a widely used statin, was also administered to compare its effect with that of the extract. Serum was used for analysis of the lipid profile and liver microsomes to assess 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-r) levels. The extract was able to reduce total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL) levels and increase the C-HDL levels reduced in diabetes, decreasing the atherogenic index and therefore the risk of suffering CVD at the same level as atorvastatin. The HMG-CoA reductase activity and LDL-r levels were not modified by the administration of E. carlinae. The results demonstrate the hypolipidemic potential of ethanol extract of E. carlinae and support its use in traditional medicine as a hypolipidemic agent.