Cell line cytotoxicity, antiadipogenic and glucose uptake activity of Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight. & Arn.

Nature has gifted us with abundant plants possessing medicinal virtues which can cure several illnesses. Currently, diabetes mellitus is a severe threat to human well-being across the world due to the rapidly increasing incidence of diabetes. New effective bioactive drugs are in need, as plants do harbour and are proven to have potential antidiabetic activity than the present hypoglycemic medicines used in clinical therapy. In this study, in vitro cytotoxicity, glucose uptake, and anti-adipogenic activities of the plant extract (methanolic extract) of S. brevistigma were examined using 3T3L1 cell lines. The studies interpreted by MTT cytotoxicity assay and glucose uptake assay by using 3T3-L1 cell lines, it was found that a very low dosage (1 ng/mL) of plant extract showed lesser cytotoxicity effect (1.42%) and considerably higher glucose uptake activity of 38.04% which is equivalent to the glucose uptake shown by 100 nm insulin (40.10%). Though plant extract has antidiabetic activity, it is important to study whether it has any other related side effects when used at higher concentrations. Therefore, in this study, the appropriate non-toxic concentration was optimized.

Paederia foetida Linn. promoted biogenic gold and silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic and in vitro efficacy against clinically isolated pathogens.

Development of newer improved therapeutic agents with efficient antimicrobial activities continues to draw attention of researchers till date. Moreover, abatement of polluting dyes released from industry with enhanced efficiency is currently being considered as challenging task for people working on material sciences. In the present study, we report a facile biogenic synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs) in which aqueous extracts of Paederia foetida Linn. was used as reducing as well as stabilizing agent. The biosynthesized Au and Ag NPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic activity of these nanoparticles were tested against Rhodamine B (RhB). The antimicrobial activity of these biosynthesized NPs were investigated against four human pathogens viz. B. cereus, E. coli, S. aureus and A. niger. Biogenic silver nanoparticles presented a strong antimicrobial activity against B. cereus (26.13) followed by E. coli (26.02), S. aureus (25.43) and A. niger (22.69). Ag NPs owing to their small size (5-25nm) could have easily penetrate into the cell membrane, disturb the metabolism, cause irretrievable damage finally leading to the microbial cell death. Interestingly biogenic gold nanoparticles didn't show any antimicrobial activity.

Gentiopicroside and sweroside from Veratrilla baillonii Franch. induce phosphorylation of Akt and suppress Pck1 expression in hepatoma cells.

The use of phytochemicals and herbal medicines has accompanied human history. Advances in modern biomedical sciences have allowed us to investigate the functional mechanisms of herbal medicines and phytochemicals. Veratrilla baillonii Franch. has long been used as a medicinal herb in southwestern China. Here, we analyzed the effects of an ethanol extract from V. baillonii (VBFE) on the expression levels of the cytosolic form of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene (Pck1) mRNA and components of the insulin signalling cascade in HL1C hepatoma cells. Compared with the insulin control, VBFE treatment inhibited the expression of Pck1 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. This was associated with the phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 in a time-dependent manner. Further analysis of the purified components of VBFE indicated that gentiopicroside and sweroside from VBFE, alone and in combination, suppressed Pck1 expression and induced Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. In conclusion, gentiopicroside and sweroside suppress Pck1 expression and induce phosphorylation of components in the insulin signalling cascade. This is the first study to demonstrate that gentiopicroside and sweroside show insulin-mimicking effects on the regulation of Pck1 expression. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential of gentiopicroside and sweroside in the control of blood glucose in animals.