Phytoecdysteroids from Ajuga iva act as potential antidiabetic agent against alloxan-induced diabetic male albino rats.

The present study investigated the protective effect of phytoecdysteroids extracted from the Ajuga iva plant on body weight changes, blood glucose, insulin total protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, pancreatic histopathology and hexokinase-I expression in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes was induced following 15day intraperitoneal administration of alloxan. The rats were divided into four groups. Group I served as a sham group, and group II served as the diabetic control. Group III served as a treatment for phytoecdysteroids (10mg/kg), and group IV served as a treatment for phytoecdysteroids (20mg/kg). Phytoecdysteroids restored body weight loss to its antihyperglycemic effect. Blood glucose was reduced 19.2 and 52.9% in group III and IV respectively. Blood insulin (54.9 and 105.88%) and total protein (25 and 72.2%) was increased in group III and IV respectively. BUN, creatinine, TG, cholesterol and lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced following treatment. Catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly increased following treatment. Islet ß-cells are lost in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Regeneration of islets and reduced atrophy of acinar cells were noted. The number of insulin-secreting cells was tremendously reduced in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Insulin-secreting cells were increased 48 and 61% in group III and IV respectively. Hexokinase-I mRNA (28.3 & 93.5%) and protein (27.9 and 55.3%) expression were significantly increased following treatment. Taking all these data together, it is suggested that the phytoecdysteroid could be a potential therapeutic agent against experimental diabetes.

[Condition of protective intestinal microbiota populations under stress exposure in rats received different diets with bioactive food components].

The evaluation of the levels of major colon microbiota populations (lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, enterobacteria) was carried out in two 15-days experiments on Wistar rats, exposed to stress factor (electric shock) and fed with different diets with the addition of biologic active micronutrients [extract from the leaves of Serratula coronata L. and Enzymatic hydrolyzate of the mussels meat (EHMM)]. In the first experiment animals were fed with a common vivarium diet. In the experimental group the water extract from leaves of Serratula coronata L. as a phytoecdysteroid source (5 mg per 1 kg body weight) was added to water. In the second experiment rats received balanced semisynthetic diet. In the diet of the experimental group the part of the protein (casein) was replaced by the peptides from EHMM. During the experiment the animal body weight was measured. On the 14th day of the experiment the animals were subjected to stress stimulation [electrodermal stimulation on paws (electric current 0.4 mA for 8 seconds)]. On the last day of the experiment the animals were euthanized by decapitation and micro-ecological research of protective microbiota populations in the cecal contents was carried out. The relative body weight increase was recorded in both experiments. In the second experiment in animals receiving EHMM this index (68.2 ± 3.0%) was considerably higher than in the control group and in the experimental group receiving no EHMM (57.2 ± 4.0 and 59.7 ± 2.8% respectively). The results of the microecological study showed different effect of diets with biologically active micronutrients on the population levels of lactobacilli. In the experiment with common vivarium diet no significant changes of the levels of the studied colon microbiota populations had been recorded in the rats of control group compared with rats of experimental group, exposed to stress factor but received no extract from Serratula coronata L. The decrease of the levels of lactobacilli by the end of the experiment was observed in the experimental group of rats received water extract from the leaves of Serratula coronata L (content of lactobacilli 7.76 ± 0.17 lg CFU/g) compared to those in control group and experimental group of rats received no extract (8.4 ± 0.09 and 8.69 ± 0.07 lg CFU/g respectively). Feeding with the balanced semisynthetic diet with the addition of EHMM or without it had a positive effect on the levels of lactobacilli and their balance with the aerobic component of the Enterobacteriaceae. There was a trend toward increased levels of lactic acid bacteria in the experimental group received EHMM (9.16 ± 0.12 lg CFU/g) compared with the contents in the control group and in the experimental group exposed to stress factor without adding EHMM in the diet (8.74 ± 0.34 and 8.79 ± 0.23 lg CFU/g, respectively). The conclusion about the positive (protective) effect of a semisynthetic diet enriched with peptides from EHMM was made based on the comparison of indicators that reflect the status of non-specific resistance of the organism: the integral criterion of weight gain and the levels of major colon microbiota populations of laboratory animals.

[Biological effects of phytoecdysteroids and chronic low-dose irradiation].

The influence of serpistene in dose of 5 and 50 mg/kg on chronic low-dose gamma-irradiation (22.6 cGy) effects on cytogenetic (abnormal sperm cell, marrow bone micronucleus) and function and morphology (thyroid and adrenal glands) parameters of mice was estimated. The serpistene modifies effects of gamma-irradiation depends on the administration regime and a dose of the substance. The most expressive radioprotective effect on endocrine organs after serpistene prophylactic administration was found. The prophylactic dose was 5 mg/kg for adrenal gland and both doses--for thyroid gland. The most expressive radioprotective effect on marrow bone cells after serpistene therapeutic administration in a dose of 5 mg/kg was found. The most expressive antimutagenic effect on somatic and germinal cells of prophylactic and therapeutic administration in a dose of 50 mg/kg was found.

Therapeutic effect of phytoecdysteroids rich extract from Ajuga iva on alloxan induced diabetic rats liver, kidney and pancreas.

In the current study, the effect of Ajuga iva extract on blood glucose, lipid profile, hepatic and renal toxicity and antioxidant enzyme activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Diabetes was confirmed by measuring the glucoserua concentration 15 days after alloxan administration. Ajuga iva extract was administrated orally 3 weeks after alloxan injection. Our results investigate that Ajuga iva extract supplementation increased the levels of both enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and metals antioxidants (iron, copper, magnesium, calcium) and decreased lipid peroxidation level (TBARs). Besides Ajuga iva ameliorated diabetes provoked hepatic and renal toxicity appeared by a lower level in total and direct bilirubin, urea, creatinine, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol and a higher level in HDL-cholesterol. Besides, the activities of phosphatase alkalines (PAL), aspartate and lactate transaminase (AST & ALT) were decreased. The benefices effects of phytoecdysteroids of Ajuga iva confirmed by histological observation in pancreatic tissues. In conclusion, Ajuga iva phytoecdysteroids supplements seem to be beneficial for correcting the hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications in liver, pancreas and kidneys.

Effects and applications of arthropod steroid hormones (ecdysteroids) in mammals.

Zooecdysteroids (arthropod steroid hormones) regulate the development of arthropods and probably many other invertebrates. Phytoecdysteroids are analogues occurring in a wide range of plant species, where they contribute to the deterrence of phytophagous invertebrates. The purpose of this short review is to summarise findings on the occurrence, metabolism and pharmacological effects of ecdysteroids in mammalian systems and to draw attention to their potential applications, particularly in gene-switch technology, where ecdysteroid analogues (steroidal and non-steroidal) can be used as effective and potent elicitors.

[Ecdysteroids of Silene italica ssp. nemoralis, novel approaches of ecdysteroid therapy]. / Ekdiszteroidok a Silene italica ssp. nemoralis-ból, az ekdiszteroidok felhasználásának néhány uj lehetosége.

Ecdysteroids are known as insect moulting hormones. They have the basic steroid structure, although their physiological effects on mammalians do not show the thymolytic and androgenic side effects of vertebrate type steroid hormones. At the same time, phytoecdysteroids can be used utilizing their anabolic and adaptogenic effects. Ecdysteroids also have a tremendous potential in the most modern therapy. Recently, the biotechnology started to employ ecdysteroids as powerful inducers for gene-switch systems with insertion of modified insect receptor into the malignant cells. Nineteen ecdysteroids were isolated with combined chromatographic methods from the herbs of Silene italica ssp. nemoralis (Waldst. and Kit.) Nyman. The chemical structure of the isolated compounds have been elucidated using spectroscopic methods (x-ray, UV, CD, IR, MS, 1D-, 2D-NMR, HMQC, HMBC, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY). Structural determination of two of the five new ecdysteroids is detailed here.

Effects of proallatotoxins (precocenes) on the development and reproduction of Rhodnius prolixus: some data

Proallatotoxins, and particularly preconcenes, are exceptionally promising models for studying Rhodnius prolixus physiology and for comparison with other natural compounds with anti-hormonal activities. Effects of preconcenes on feeding, development and reproduction of R. prolixus are being detailed. The precocenes reveal significant effects on feeding, moulting cycle (inducing precocious metamorphosis and ecdysial stasis), and reproduction of these insect. The mechanism of action of proallatotoxins was discussed based on the corpus allatum cytotoxic effect and on the ecdysteroid biosynthesis in prothoracic glands and ovaries. Further studies of these compounds on R. prolixus are need and will hopefully reveal other unesplored points regarding the action of the proallatotoxins on insects.

Midgut of Lepidopteran pupae is a major depot of sequestered, mobilizable, ecdysteroids

Extirpation of endocrine organs - a classic maneuver in hormonal research - has been difficult or impossible in the case of the prothoracic glands (PG) of insects. In larval and pupal Lepidoptera the glands are virtually inaccessible unless one sacrifices the insect. Even then, the PG are not easy to remove in their entirety. Consequently, in order to obtain viable preparations lacking PG, one costomarily makes use of abdomens isolated by litigation or surgery.