Antidiabetic Properties of Dietary Chrysin: A Cellular Mechanism Review.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic metabolic disorder and is considered one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The improperly-treated chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes has been related to several long-term complications and multiple organ failures, including nephropathy, which can lead to kidney failure, retinopathy with the potential loss of vision, and cardiovascular symptoms. Current commercially available synthetic glucose-lowering agents have been reported to have several adverse effects. Therefore, the search for alternative remedies such as medicinal plants and their active compounds have attracted attention. Chrysin is an active flavonoid that exists widely in various plants and diets and has been reported to possess pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic activity. Many studies have been conducted to characterize the antidiabetic of chrysin, as well as its potential pathways, in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Chrysin has shown promise as an antidiabetic agent in animal studies, thus, demonstrating its potential to be developed as an antidiabetic drug. This review discussed the antidiabetic action of chrysin and its mechanisms, including targeting different mechanisms such as stimulation of insulin signaling, blockage of endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative damage, promotion of skeletal glucose uptake, as well as modulation of apoptosis and autophagy signaling. Additionally, this review would be useful for further studies regarding the mechanism of work of plant derived-compound as a potential antidiabetic agent.

Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Vitex cofassus Reinw. Extracts on the Larval and Pupal Stages of Aedes aegypti.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the chemical composition, larvicidal, and cytotoxic potentials of the fruit extract of Vitex cofassus Reinw. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition was analyzed using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. Separately, mortality data were evaluated by probit analysis to determine the lethal concentration (LC)50 and LC90 values on brine shrimp and Aedes aegypti larvae. Moreover, the effects on different stages of Ae. aegypti were also examined. RESULTS: Fourteen majority components representing carboxylic acid were identified. The extract was very toxic to both brine shrimp and Ae. aegypti larvae with LC50 values of 0.308 and 0.514 µg/mL, whereas the LC90 values were 4.317 and 1.921 µg/mL, respectively. The effect of the fruit extract of V. cofassus on different stages of Ae. aegypti indicated that high concentrations (2.00-4.00 µg/mL) promoted complete mortality. A concentration of 0.125 to 1.00 µg/mL inhibited larval metamorphosis. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the chemical composition and larvicidal effects of the fruit extract of V. cofassus. The results indicate that the extract may be a promising source of larvicidal compounds that could be useful for pharmaceutical applications.

A New Cytotoxic Compound from Methanol Extract of Koordersiodendron pinnatum Merr. Leaves

Chemical investigation of the methanol extract of Koordersiodendron pinnatum Merr. leaves resulted a new naphthalene derivative, (Z)-4-(tetradec-3-enyl)naphthalene-1,2,7-triol (1), together with three known compounds, β-sitosterol (2), 20-epibryonolic acid (3), and scopoletin (4). The structure of the new compound was elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. The isolated compounds (1-4) were tested their cytotoxic activities against the P-388 murine leukemia cell line and compound 1 has highest activity with IC50 1.94 ㎛

A New Cytotoxic Compound from Methanol Extract of Koordersiodendron pinnatum Merr. Leaves

Chemical investigation of the methanol extract of Koordersiodendron pinnatum Merr. leaves resulted a new naphthalene derivative, (Z)-4-(tetradec-3-enyl)naphthalene-1,2,7-triol (1), together with three known compounds, β-sitosterol (2), 20-epibryonolic acid (3), and scopoletin (4). The structure of the new compound was elucidated based on spectroscopic evidence. The isolated compounds (1-4) were tested their cytotoxic activities against the P-388 murine leukemia cell line and compound 1 has highest activity with IC50 1.94 ㎛

Relationship between Vitamin D Level and Serum TNF-α Concentration on the Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease and disturbed bacterial clearance. Vitamin D deficiency is sometimes observed in COPD patients and as significant roles in increasing inflammation of airway obstruction and systemic obstruction, increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine including TNF-α, reduction of bacterial clearance and increase exacerbation risk due to infection. Also, vitamin D plays significant roles in the metabolism of calcium and mineralisation of bones and regulation system of immune. TNF-α also has essential roles in pathogenesis and inflammation of COPD. Several studies that investigate the relationship between vitamin D level and serum TNF-α concentration in COPD patients are relatively uncommon, including in Indonesia. AIM: This study aimed to assess the relationship between vitamin D level and TNF-α concentration in patients on the severity of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This study was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study. Total samples were 50 COPD patients with the average age of older than 60 years during their enrollments at the Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine of the Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital Makassar in September 2018-January 2019. All procedures of the present study were reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Medicine Faculty of Hasanuddin University. The severity of COPD was assessed according to the combination of COPD assessment stages that referred to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Guideline 2015 that consisted of the combination of scoring COPD Assessment Test (CAT), the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaire and results of the spirometry measurement. Assessment of airway obstruction levels referred to the GOLD spirometry criteria. Determination of thoracic photographs was conducted to verify the COPD diagnosis of the severity of COPD. Determination of serum TNF-α concentration and vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] level used the ELISA method. RESULTS: The majority of COPD patients were observed in the category of older than 60 years old accounted for 34 COPD patients (68%), and the majority of COPD patients were males accounted for 47 males with COPD (94%). The majority of COPD patients were observed in the group of D (38%). All the study subjects observed in this study were smokers, and 82% of them were in the category of heavy smokers. 21 study subjects had higher concentration of serum TNF-α (tertile 3 = 0.21-1.83 pg/dl), 20 study subjects and lower level of vitamin D (tertile 1 = 182.1-364.5 pg/dl). The majority of the study subjects (38%) were in the category of severe COPD (category D of the severity of COPD at the tertile 3) according to the GOLD Combine Assessment. Given the relationship between vitamin D level and serum TNF-α concentration on the airway obstruction, there were significant positive correlations between the increase of vitamin D levels and the increase of serum TNF-α concentrations on airway obstruction. Given the relationship between vitamin D level and serum TNF-α concentration on the severity of COPD, there were significant positive correlations between the increase of vitamin D levels (tertiles 1, 2 and 3) and the increase of serum TNF-α concentrations on the severity of COPD at p-value < 0.05. Overall, there were non-linear relationships between vitamin D level and serum TNF-α concentration on the severity of COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Serum TNF-α concentration was positively associated with airway obstruction level and severity of COPD. Low level of vitamin D was negatively associated with airway obstruction level and severity of COPD. Vitamin D3 level (1,25(OH)2D) was negatively associated with serum TNF-α concentration and airway obstruction level and severity of COPD.