Combined Inositol Hexakisphosphate and Inositol Supplement Consumption Improves Serum Alpha-Amylase Activity and Hematological Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Crosslinked and PEGylated Pectin Chitosan Nanoparticles for Delivery of Phytic Acid to Colon

Polysaccharide-based nanoparticles (NPs) such as pectin/ chitosan (PN/CN) had always been of greatest interest because of their excellent solubility, biocompatibility, and higher suitability for oral drug delivery. This study employed blending-crosslinking of polymers (PN&CN) followed by emulsification-solvent evaporation to prepare and compare two sets of PEGylated NPs to deliver phytic acid (IP6) to colon orally as it has potential to manage colon cancer but fails to reach colon when ingested in pure form. The first set was crosslinked with Glutaraldehyde (GE) (GE*PN-CN-NPs) while the second set was crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) (TPP*PN-CN-NPs). IP6-loaded-GE/TPP*PN-CN-NPs were optimized using a central composite design. Developed TPP*PN-CN-NPs had a smaller size (210.6±7.93nm) than GE*PN-CN-NPs (557.2±5.027nm). Prepared NPs showed <12% IP6 release at pH 1.2 whereas >80% release was observed at pH 7.4. Further, NPs were explored for cytocompatibility in J774.2 cell lines, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake in HT-29 and DLD-1 cell lines. While exhibiting substantial cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in HT-29 and DLD-1, the NPs were deemedsafe in J774.2. The PEGylated-TPP*PN-CN-NPs showed time-dependent uptake in J774.2 cell lines. Conclusively, the employed NP development method successfully delivered IP6 to colon and may also open avenues for the oral delivery of other drugs to colon.

Phytic acid: Blessing in disguise, a prime compound required for both plant and human nutrition

Phytic acid (PA), [myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate] is the principal storage compound of phosphorus (P) and account for 65%-85% of the seeds total P. The negative charge on PA attracts and chelates metal cations resulting in a mixed insoluble salt, phytate. Phytate contains six negatively charged ions, chelates divalent cations such as Fe2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ rendering them unavailable for absorption by monogastric animals. This may lead to micronutrient deficiencies in humans since they lack the enzyme phytase that hydrolyzes phytate and releases the bound micronutrients. There are two main concerns about the presence of PA in human diet. The first is its negative impact on the bioavailability of several minerals and the second is the evidence of PA inhibiting various proteases essential for protein degradation and the subsequent digestion in stomach and small intestine. The beneficial role of PA has been underestimated due to its distinct negative consequences. PA is reported to be a potent natural plant antioxidant which plays a protective role against oxidative stress in seeds and preventive role in various human diseases. Recently beneficial roles of PA as an antidiabetic and antibacterial agent has been reported. Thus, the development of grains with low-PA and modified distribution pattern can be achieved through fine-tuning of its content in the seeds.

Fluoresceinated Aminohexanol Tethered Inositol Hexakisphosphate: Studies on Arabidopsis thaliana and Drosophila melanogaster and Docking with 2P1M Receptor

Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6; phytic acid) is considered as the second messenger and plays a very important role in plants, animals, and human beings. It is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially in dry fruits, bran, and seeds. The resulting anion is a colorless species that plays a critical role in nutrition and is believed to cure many diseases. A fluoresceinated aminohexanol tethered inositol hexakisphosphate (III) had been synthesized earlier involving many complicated steps. We describe here a simple two-step synthesis of (III) and its characterization using different techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible, ultraviolet-fluorescence, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopies. The effect of (III) has been investigated in the model systems, Arabidopsis thaliana and Drosophila melanogaster. Using Schrodinger software, computational studies on the binding of (III) with the protein 2P1M (Auxin-receptor TIR1-adaptor ASK1 complex) has revealed strong binding propensity with this compound. These studies on the fluoresceinated tethered phytic acid could have far reaching implications on its efficacy for human health and treatment of diseases (cancer/tumor and glioblastoma) and for understanding phosphorous recycling in the environment, especially for plant systems.

New Frontiers for the Use of IP6 and Inositol Combination in Treating Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

Inositol, or myo-inositol, and associated analog molecules, including myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, are known to possess beneficial biomedical properties and are now being widely studied. The impact of these compounds in improving diabetic indices is significant, especially in light of the high cost of treating diabetes mellitus and associated disorders globally. It is theorized that, within ten years, the global population of people with the disease will reach 578 million individuals, with the cost of care projected to be approximately 2.5 trillion dollars. Natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals are being sought, and this has led to studies involving inositol, and myo-inositol-hexakisphosphate, also referred to as IP6. It has been reported that IP6 can improve diabetic indices and regulate the activities of some metabolic enzymes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Current research activities have been focusing on the mechanisms of action of inositol and IP6 in the amelioration of the indices of diabetes mellitus. We demonstrated that an IP6 and inositol combination supplement may regulate insulin secretion, modulate serum leptin concentrations, food intake, and associated weight gain, which may be beneficial in both prediabetic and diabetic states. The supplement attenuates vascular damage by reducing red cell distribution width. Serum HDL is increased while serum triglycerides tend to decrease with consumption of the combination supplement, perhaps due to the modulation of lipogenesis involving reduced serum lipase activity. We also noted increased fecal lipid output following combination supplement consumption. Importantly, liver function was found to be preserved. Concurrently, serum reactive oxygen species production was reduced, indicating that inositol and IP6 supplement consumption may reduce free radical damage to tissues and organs as well as serum lipids and blood glucose by preserving liver function. This review provides an overview of the findings associated with inositol and IP6 supplementation in the effective treatment of diabetes with a view to proposing the potential mechanisms of action.