Assessment of antidiabetic potential of Musa acuminata peel extract and its fractions in experimental animals and characterisation of its bioactive compounds by HPTLC

Antidiabetic Potential of Bananas (Musa spp.): A Systematic Review of Bioactive Compounds and Antihyperglycemic Activities

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Bananas (Musa spp.), a staple fruit crop in Southeast Asia, are widely recognised for their nutritional value and potential medicinal properties, including the management of diabetes. To address the diabetes pandemic, various studies have explored the efficacy of many natural foods in reducing blood glucose, preventing complications that arise from the chronic illness. However, a comprehensive overview of bioactive compounds and their antidiabetic effects across different banana species in recent years is lacking. This review provides a comprehensive overview of bioactive compounds in various parts of the bananas that have demonstrated antihyperglycemic activities. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a thorough literature search using ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PubMed databases, resulting in the inclusion of 27 relevant articles.

RECENT FINDINGS

Emerging evidence suggests that different parts of the banana plant contain various bioactive compounds with antihyperglycemic activities, offering promising benefits for diabetes management. The findings reveal that the antihyperglycemic effects of bananas can be attributed to specific bioactive compounds, such as phenols, saponins, alkaloids, sterols, and flavonoids, through mechanisms like inhibition of α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, α-amylase and sucrase enzymes, glucose uptake assay, and inhibition of formation of advanced glycation end-products. Liver glycogen content and fasting blood glucose in rat models, along with HbA1c measurements in human subjects, were also assessed to evaluate invivo antidiabetic activity, which has yielded positive outcomes. The results support the potential medicinal and pharmaceutical benefits of bananas in clinical diabetes management and suggest that incorporating banana-derived compounds could enhance the cost-effectiveness of antidiabetic treatments.

Unveiling the Chemistry of Citrus Peel: Insights into Nutraceutical Potential and Therapeutic Applications

The recent millennium has witnessed a notable shift in consumer focus towards natural products for addressing lifestyle-related disorders, driven by their safety and cost-effectiveness. Nutraceuticals and functional foods play an imperative role by meeting nutritional needs and offering medicinal benefits. With increased scientific knowledge and awareness, the significance of a healthy lifestyle, including diet, in reducing disease risk is widely acknowledged, facilitating access to a diverse and safer diet for longevity. Plant-based foods rich in phytochemicals are increasingly popular and effectively utilized in disease management. Agricultural waste from plant-based foods is being recognized as a valuable source of nutraceuticals for dietary interventions. Citrus peels, known for their diverse flavonoids, are emerging as a promising health-promoting ingredient. Globally, citrus production yields approximately 15 million tons of by-products annually, highlighting the substantial potential for utilizing citrus waste in phyto-therapeutic and nutraceutical applications. Citrus peels are a rich source of flavonoids, with concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 g/100 g dry weight, depending on the citrus variety. The most abundant flavonoids in citrus peel include hesperidin and naringin, as well as essential oils rich in monoterpenes like limonene. The peel extracts exhibit high antioxidant capacity, with DPPH radical scavenging activities ranging from 70 to 90%, comparable to synthetic antioxidants like BHA and BHT. Additionally, the flavonoids present in citrus peel have been found to have antioxidant properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress by 30% and cardiovascular disease by 25%. Potent anti-inflammatory effects have also been demonstrated, reducing inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α by up to 40% in cell culture studies. These findings highlight the potential of citrus peel as a valuable source of nutraceuticals in diet-based therapies.

Lupenone improves type 2 diabetic nephropathy by regulating NF-κB pathway-mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad/CTGF-associated fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetic nephropathy is a common diabetic complication and the main cause of death in patients with diabetes. Research has aimed to find an ideal drug with minimal side effects for treating this disease. Banana peel has been shown to be anti-diabetic, with lupenone isolated from banana peel exhibiting antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities; However, the effects of lupenone on type 2 diabetic nephropathy are largely unknown.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of lupenone on type 2 diabetic nephropathy, and its mechanism from both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic perspectives.

METHODS

Spontaneous type 2 diabetic nephropathy db/db mouse models were given three levels of lupenone (24 or 12 or 6 mg/kg/d) via intragastric administration for six weeks, and irbesartan treatment was used for the positive control group. We explored the effects and mechanism of lupenone action using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, automatic biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining, real time-PCR, and western blotting. Concurrently, a high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with a low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic nephropathy rat model was used for confirmatory research.

RESULTS

Lupenone administration maintained the fasting blood glucose; reduced glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, and 24 h proteinuria levels; and markedly regulated changes in biochemical indicators associated with kidney injury in serum and urine (including 24 h proteinuria, micro-albumin, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase, α1-micro-globulin, creatinine, urea nitrogen, uric acid, total protein, and albumin) of type 2 diabetic nephropathy mice and rats. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining as well as molecular biology tests revealed that inflammation and fibrosis are the two key processes affected by lupenone treatment. Lupenone protected type 2 diabetic nephropathy kidneys by regulating the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response and TGF-β1/Smad/CTGF pathway-associated fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Lupenone has potential as an innovative drug for preventing and treating diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, it has great value for the utilization of banana peel resources.

Anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-antipyretic and analgesic activities of Globularia alypum extracts

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemic, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Globularia alypum (GA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GA methanol and water extracts (GAME, GAWE) were administered to high-fat-high-glucose diet (HFFD) rats.

RESULTS

This study showed that GAME exhibited the highest antioxidant, anti-α-amylase and anti-lipase activities, with half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values 0.067, 1.05 and 2.97 mg/ml respectively. In HFFD rats, the administration of GAME inhibited lipase activity by 36, 37 and 30% in the intestine, pancreas and serum, respectively, reduced body weight by 17.7% and modulated lipid profile. In addition, administration of GAME to HFFD-rats decreased α-amylase activity, improved glucose level and protected liver function. Furthermore, the administration of GA extracts to rats revealed antipyretic (reduction in writhing by 64%) and analgesic (decrease of temperature by 1.11 °C) activities.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that GA extracts exhibited an anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycaemia, anti-pyretic and analgesic activities.

Antioxidants Activity Assessment and Utilization of Banana Peels to Attenuate the Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is the primary metabolic disorder listed among the top 10 death-causing diseases. The complete cure of diabetes is impossible, but the prevention and maintenance of glucose levels can reduce the diabetes severity. Objectives: To utilize the banana peel extracts to evaluate their antioxidant attributes and capability to attenuate diabetes. Methods: The antioxidant properties were assessed by measuring the DPPH, total phenolic contents (TPC), and total flavonoid contents (TFC) in ethanol, methanol, and acetone solutions. Moreover, the renal functional tests (Serum creatinine, serum urea, and BUN) and liver function tests (ALT, ASP, Serum Albumin, and total proteins) were also conducted during the 21 days experimental study in diabetes-induced (via Streptozotocin: 350 mg/kg) male Albino Wister rats. Results: The results indicated that the DPPH, TPC, and TFC contents were higher in methanol solution, i.e., 74.20±0.98%, 54.78±0.69mg GAE/g, and 39.48±0.37mg GAE/g respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that the unripe, ripe, and overripe significantly reduced liver and renal function parameters in diabetic rats. Conclusions: Banana peels have prominent potential to prevent diabetes-linked variables due to their higher antioxidant activity.

A critical look at challenges and future scopes of bioactive compounds and their incorporations in the food, energy, and pharmaceutical sector

Bioactive compounds refer to secondary metabolites extracted from plants, fungi, microbes, or animals. Besides having pharmacological or toxicological effects on organisms leading to utilization in food and pharmaceutical industries, the discovery of novel properties of such compounds has led to the diversification of their applications, ranging from cosmetics and functionalized biomaterials to bioremediation and alternate fuels. Conventional time-consuming and solvent-intensive methods of extraction are increasingly being replaced by green solvents such as ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, and deep eutectic solvents, as well as non-conventional methods of extraction assisted by microwaves, pulse electric fields, enzymes, ultrasound, or pressure. These methods, along with advances in characterization and optimization strategies, have boosted the commercial viability of extraction especially from agrowastes and organic residues, promoting a sustainable circular economy. Further development of microfluidics, optimization models, nanoencapsulation, and metabolic engineering are expected to overcome certain limitations that restrict the growth of this field, in the context of improving screening, extraction, and economy of processes, as well as retaining biodiversity and enhancing the stability and functionality of such compounds. This review is a compilation of the various extraction and characterization methods employed for bioactive compounds and covers major applications in food, pharmacy, chemicals, energy, and bioremediation. Major limitations and scope of improvement are also discussed.