Cinnamon extract improves abnormalities in glucose tolerance by decreasing Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 1 expression in adipocytes

A review on the role of functional foods and derivatives for diabetes management

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global metabolic disorder affecting the quality of life. The continuous usage of hypoglycaemic agents can control diabetic pathogenesis in patient; however it is challenging to minimize the severe side effects and metabolic contraindications. So, it is necessary to find novel drug candidates or dietary derivatives with minimum side effects, and excellent biological efficacy to meet the demands of the growing population. As a metabolic disorder, DM requires a food based therapy for better recovery. Including various functional foods (legumes, spices and whole grains) in optimal quantity in routine diet can prevent the complications associated with DM. Recent research revealed that the functional foods (FFs) combinations can accelerate the recovery time, promote a clinical total effective rate, and minimize endothelial dysfunction and microvascular episodes, associated with diabetic pathogenesis and provides novel possibilities of cost-effective treatment options for DM management. Innovative technology associated with artificial intelligence (AI), imaging techniques, and metabolic engineering tools help to understand the signalling mechanisms associated with DM and reveal sensitive targets for novel drug interactions, further opening a crucial turning point in DM research. In conclusion, the current review summarized the direct intake of FFs or derivatives, such as food protein and bioactive peptides, can be exploited as promising anti-diabetic agents in the near future. AI's influential role in bioactive peptide design and revealing the newer targets of FFs and FF derivatives (FFDs) in signalling are appraised as promising approaches for DM management. The current findings point to the fact that regulated FFs intake along with health care monitoring can control the complications associated with DM.

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Molecular, cellular, and metabolic insights of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) advantages in diabetes and related complications: condiment or medication?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing concern in public health, which affects about 10% of the population. There are several chronic complications due to DM, including kidney failure, blindness, amputations, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Cinnamon zeylanicum (C. verum, Ceylon cinnamon, or true cinnamon) has been shown to have desirable effects such as anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemia, and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental studies. In this regard, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases have been investigated with keywords of "Cinnamon," "Cinnamomum zeylanicum," "diabetes mellitus," "diabetes complication," "hypoglycemic," "anti-hyperglycemic," and "anti-diabetic" from incept to June 2024. This study aimed to review all pharmacological effects and molecular pathways of C. zeylanicum in DM and its complications in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical. Based on these studies, C. zeylanicum has good potential to design human studies for controlling and modifying DM and its related disorders.

Cinnamon for Metabolic Diseases and Their Cardiovascular and Hepatic Complications: A Mechanistic Review

Cinnamon is one of the world's oldest and most popular spices, and is derived from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. During the last two decades, cinnamon has demonstrated beneficial metabolic effects not only in animal experiments but also in clinical trials. Even recent meta-analyses have shown the protective effects of cinnamon on different components of metabolic syndrome and their complications. In the last 5 years, several experimental studies have unraveled the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, lipid-lowering, weight-lowering, and cardioprotective properties of cinnamon. This review paper will discuss how cinnamon and its active components, particularly cinnamaldehyde, suppress inflammation and oxidative stress, modulate mitochondrial dysfunction, and regulate glucose uptake, insulin resistance, lipogenesis, beta-oxidation, Ca2+ signaling, and other cellar events at the molecular level. Specifically, we will delve into the molecular mechanisms involved in the metabolic effects of cinnamon to provide a deeper insight into how cinnamon can bring such beneficial effects. This review hopes to encourage the use of cinnamon in clinical settings, guide the combination of cinnamon with other drugs used to treat different components of metabolic syndrome based on their mechanism of action, and support the concept of complementary medicine for metabolic diseases.

Exploring the Antioxidative Effects of Ginger and Cinnamon: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Other Oxidative Stress-Related Disorders

Oxidative stress represents the pathophysiological basis for most disorders, including reproductive issues. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is heterogeneous endocrine disorder of women characterized primarily by irregular menstrual cycles, hyper-androgenism, and ovulatory dysfunction. In the last decades, PCOS was recognized as a systemic silent inflammation and an oxidative disturbance-related disorder, exerting multifaceted symptoms, including metabolic. PCOS treatment should involve a personalized approach tailored to individual symptoms; however, the results are often unsatisfactory. Various supplementary treatments have been proposed to assist in the management and alleviation of PCOS symptoms. Cinnamon and ginger, known for millennia as herbs used in spices or traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, are of interest in this study. The aim of this study is to evaluate and investigate the effects of cinnamon and ginger in PCOS patients. Using relevant keywords we searched through PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Web of science to find animal studies, pre-clinical, and clinical studies which were then reviewed for usage. Out of all of the reviewed studies a total of 65 studies were included in this review article. Cinnamon and ginger can affect hormonal status, lipid profile, obesity, and insulin resistance by mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation. Generally, based on current clinical evidence, it was revealed that supplementation with cinnamon or ginger had a useful impact in patients with PCOS. This review summarizes the antioxidative effects of ginger and cinnamon in PCOS treatment, highlighting their potential benefits in other oxidative stress-related pathologies.

Natural activators of AMPK signaling: potential role in the management of type-2 diabetes

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase involved in the homeostasis of cellular energy. AMPK has developed as an appealing clinical target for the diagnosis of multiple metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, inflammation, and cancer. Genetic and pharmacological studies indicate that AMPK is needed in response to glucose deficiency, dietary restriction, and increased physical activity for preserving glucose homeostasis. After activation, AMPK influences metabolic mechanisms contributing to enhanced ATP production, thus growing processes that absorb ATP simultaneously. In this review, several natural products have been discussed which enhance the sensitivity of AMPK and alleviate sub complications or different pathways by which such AMPK triggers can be addressed. AMPK Natural products as potential AMPK activators can be developed as alternate pharmacological intervention to reverse metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes.