Effects of diosmin and crocin on metabolic syndrome-associated cardio-vascular complications in rats

Effects of Crocus sativus on glycemic control and cardiometabolic parameters among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of clinical syndromes that is closely associated with an elevated risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In a series of animal experiments and clinical trials, crocus sativus and its component crocin have demonstrated promising hypoglycemic effects. However, there is currently insufficient evidence regarding their impact on cardiometabolic parameters. Our study aimed to assess the impact of Crocus sativus and crocin on glycemic control in individuals with metabolic syndrome and associated disorders, as well as their potential effects on improving cardiometabolic parameters. We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to ascertain the pertinent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) until December 30, 2023. Q-test and I2 statistics were utilized to evaluate heterogeneity among the included studies. Data were merged using a random-effects model and presented as (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The current comprehensive review and meta-analysis, encompassing 13 RCTs involving a total of 840 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and associated disorders, demonstrates that Crocus sativus was superior to placebo on Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) (WMD: -0.31;95% CI [-0.44,-0.19]. P = 0.002) and systolic blood pressure(SBP) (WMD:-7.49;95% CI [-11.67,-3.30]. P = 0.99) respectively. Moreover, Crocus sativus improved fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD:-7.25;95% CI [-11.82, -2.57]. P = 0.002) when used crocin and on other chronic diseases. Crocus sativus reduced the total cholesterol (TC) among the metabolic syndromepatients (WMD:-13.64;95%CI [-26.26, -1.03]. P = 0.03). We demonstrated that Crocus sativus exerts beneficial effects on glycemic control and cardiometabolic parameters in individuals with metabolic syndrome and related disorders.

The Synthetic Flavonoid Hidrosmin Improves Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerotic Lesions in Diabetic Mice

In diabetes, chronic hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to the progression of macro/microvascular complications. Recently, benefits of the use of flavonoids in these conditions have been established. This study investigates, in two different mouse models of diabetes, the vasculoprotective effects of the synthetic flavonoid hidrosmin on endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. In a type 2 diabetes model of leptin-receptor-deficient (db/db) mice, orally administered hidrosmin (600 mg/kg/day) for 16 weeks markedly improved vascular function in aorta and mesenteric arteries without affecting vascular structural properties, as assessed by wire and pressure myography. In streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, hidrosmin treatment for 7 weeks reduced atherosclerotic plaque size and lipid content; increased markers of plaque stability; and decreased markers of inflammation, senescence and oxidative stress in aorta. Hidrosmin showed cardiovascular safety, as neither functional nor structural abnormalities were noted in diabetic hearts. Ex vivo, hidrosmin induced vascular relaxation that was blocked by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition. In vitro, hidrosmin stimulated endothelial NOS activity and NO production and downregulated hyperglycemia-induced inflammatory and oxidant genes in vascular smooth muscle cells. Our results highlight hidrosmin as a potential add-on therapy in the treatment of macrovascular complications of diabetes.

Pharmacology of Diosmin, a Citrus Flavone Glycoside: An Updated Review

Flavonoids are phytochemicals that are well known for their beneficial pharmacological properties. Diosmin is a flavone glycoside derived from hesperidin, a flavanone abundantly found in citrus fruits. Daflon is an oral phlebotonic flavonoid combination containing diosmin and hesperidin (9:1) that is commonly used for the management of blood vessel disorders. After oral administration, diosmin is converted to diosmetin, which is subsequently absorbed and esterified into glucuronide conjugates that are excreted in the urine. Pharmacological effects of diosmin have been investigated in several in vitro and in vivo studies, and it was found to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and antifibrotic effects in different disease models. Diosmin also demonstrated multiple desirable properties in several clinical studies. Moreover, toxicological studies showed that diosmin has a favorable safety profile. Accordingly, diosmin is a potential effective and safe treatment for many diseases. However, diosmin exhibits inhibitory effects on different metabolic enzymes. This encourages the investigation of its potential therapeutic effect and safety in different diseases in clinical trials, while taking potential interactions into consideration.

Natural and synthetic antioxidants targeting cardiac oxidative stress and redox signaling in cardiometabolic diseases

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are metabolic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, rare genetic metabolic diseases, etc.) associated with cardiac pathologies. Pathophysiology of most CMDs involves increased production of reactive oxygen species and impaired antioxidant defense systems, resulting in cardiac oxidative stress (OxS). To alleviate OxS, various antioxidants have been investigated in several diseases with conflicting results. Here we review the effect of CMDs on cardiac redox homeostasis, the role of OxS in cardiac pathologies, as well as experimental and clinical data on the therapeutic potential of natural antioxidants (including resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, vitamins A, C, and E, coenzyme Q10, etc.), synthetic antioxidants (including N-acetylcysteine, SOD mimetics, mitoTEMPO, SkQ1, etc.), and promoters of antioxidant enzymes in CMDs. As no antioxidant indicated for the prevention and/or treatment of CMDs has reached the market despite the large number of preclinical and clinical studies, a sizeable translational gap is evident in this field. Thus, we also highlight potential underlying factors that may contribute to the failure of translation of antioxidant therapies in CMDs.

Metabolism and pharmacological activities of the natural health-benefiting compound diosmin

Diosmin is a famous natural flavonoid for treating chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.