Inhibitory Effects of Siegesbeckia orientalis Extracts on Advanced Glycation End Product Formation and Key Enzymes Related to Metabolic Syndrome

Effect of Enzymatic Biotransformation on the Hypotensive Potential of Red Grape Pomace Extract

Hypertension is a widespread health risk, affecting over a billion people and causing 9 million deaths per year. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) is a primary target for hypertension treatment, and it is primarily treated through drugs that inhibit the Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE). In addition to pharmacological treatment, various plants are recommended in traditional medicine for blood pressure regulation. This study aimed to produce high-phenolic-content extracts with and without enzymatic assistance from red grape pomace and evaluate their antioxidant capacity and ACE inhibitory potential. The total phenolic content (TPC) was measured, and phenolic identification was performed using HPLC analysis. In addition, the antioxidant capacity and anti-hypertensive potential were determined via in vitro assays. There was no statistical difference in the TPC antioxidant capacity between the extraction methods. Otherwise, when considering the extraction yield, the enzymatic process recovered around 70% more phenolic compounds from the pomace, and the phenolic profile was changed. Enzymatic assistance also significantly increased the ACE inhibitory potential in the grape pomace extract. This study demonstrates the viability of upcycling grape pomace to obtain bioactive compounds and to reduce their environmental impact, and highlights the influence of the enzymatic extraction on the hypotensive potential of the extract.

Sigesbeckia orientalis Extract Ameliorates the Experimental Diabetic Nephropathy by Downregulating the Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Signaling Pathways

Diabetes in children and its complications are on the rise globally, which is accompanied by increasing in diabetes-related complications. Oxidative stress and inflammation induced by elevated blood sugar in diabetic patients are considered risk factors associated with the development of diabetes complications, including chronic kidney disease and its later development to end-stage renal disease. Microvascular changes within the kidneys of DM patients often lead to chronic kidney disease, which aggravates the illness. Sigesbeckia orientalis extract (SOE), reported to have strong antioxidative and excellent anti-inflammatory activities, is used in the modern practice of traditional Chinese medicine. Kidneys from three groups of control mice (CTR), mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes (DM), and mice with STZ-induced DM treated with SOE (DMRx) were excised for morphological analyses and immunohistochemical assessments. Only mice in the DM group exhibited significantly lower body weight, but higher blood sugar was present. The results revealed more obvious renal injury in the DM group than in the other groups, which appeared as greater glomerular damage and tubular injury, sores, and plenty of connective tissues within the mesangium. Not only did the DM group have a higher level of cytokine, tumor necrosis factor, and the oxidative stress marker, 8-hydroxyguanosine expression, but also factors of the nuclear factor pathway and biomarkers of microvascular status had changed. Disturbances to the kidneys in DMRx mice were attenuated compared to the DM group. We concluded that SOE is an effective medicine, with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory abilities, to protect against or attenuate diabetic nephropathy from inflammatory disturbances by oxidative stress and to cure vessel damage in a hyperglycemic situation.

Suppressive Effects of Siegesbeckia orientalis Ethanolic Extract on Proliferation and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Promoting Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Inflammatory Responses

Previous studies have demonstrated that Siegesbeckia orientalis (SO) has a suppressive effect on the growth and migration of endometrial and cervical cancer cells. The present study examined the effect of SO ethanolic extract (SOE) on the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and examined the effects of SOE on non-cancerous cells using HaCaT keratinocytes as a model. The SOE effectively inhibited the proliferation of Hepa1-6 (IC₅₀ = 282.4 μg/mL) and HepG2 (IC₅₀ = 344.3 μg/mL) hepatoma cells, whereas it has less cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cells (IC₅₀ = 892.4 μg/mL). The SOE treatment increased the generation of ROS in HCC, but decreased the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. In contrast, it reduced intracellular ROS formation and upregulated the expression of the related antioxidant enzymes in the H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells. The SOE intervention also down-regulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and the migration-related proteins including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and β-catenin in the HCC, suggesting that SOE could promote HCC apoptosis and inhibit HCC migration. On the contrary, it reduced apoptosis and promoted the migration of the keratinocytes. Additionally, the SOE treatment significantly up-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, in Hepa1-6 and HepG2 cells. Conversely, it significantly decreased the expression of these cytokines in the H₂O₂-induced HaCaT cells. These findings indicated that SOE treatment can delay the progression of HCC by increasing oxidative stress, promoting inflammatory response, inducing cancer cell apoptosis and inhibiting their migration. It also has protective effects from pro-oxidant H₂O₂ in non-cancerous cells. Therefore, SOE may provide a potential treatment for liver cancer.

Comparative Analysis of In Vitro Enzyme Inhibitory Activities and Phytochemicals from Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco via Solvent Partitioning Method

The extraction of plant bioactive compounds from Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco remains a great challenge due to the different chemical groups. This study aimed to compare the bioactive compounds with enzyme inhibitory effect from P. orientalis via solvent partitioning method. Dried leaf samples were macerated and fractionated with six solvents of different polarities. The phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, alkaloid and pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-glycation potential were compared across the six plant fractions. Toxicity assessment was performed with an in vivo brine shrimp model. The varying levels of bioactive compounds in ethyl acetate (phenolics, flavonoids), hexane (saponins, tannins) and chloroform (alkaloids) fractions clearly demonstrated the significant impact of solvent polarity on the extraction of bioactive compounds. The reducing potential (r = 0.67), IC₅₀ of α-amylase inhibition (r = -0.71), IC₅₀ of advanced glycation end-product inhibition (r = -0.93) and dicarbonyl compound inhibition (r = 0.57) in the plant fractions were correlated (p<0.05) with the flavonoids. Besides, the alkaloid, saponin and tannin were associated with cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitory activity. Principal component analysis confirmed that solvent polarity (23.9%) and plant extraction yield (37.1%) collectively contributed to 61% of bioactivity variation in P. orientalis. Among the six plant fractions, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited relatively high anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-glycation potential while the non-toxic methanolic and aqueous fractions displayed optimal hyaluronidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities, respectively. The current study has identified semi-polar ethyl acetate fraction of P. orientalis as a good alternative source of bioactive compounds for future pharmaceutical product development.

Protective Mechanism of Leucine and Isoleucine against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

Leucine and isoleucine possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their underlying protective mechanisms against oxidative damage remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, the protective mechanism of leucine and isoleucine against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in a bovine mammary epithelial cell lines (MAC-T cells) were investigated. Briefly, MAC-T cells exposed or free to H₂O₂ were incubated with different combinations of leucine and isoleucine. The cellular relative proliferation rate and viability, oxidative stress indicators, and inflammatory factors were determined by specific commercial kits. The genes related to barrier functions was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein expression differences were explored by 4D label-free quantitative proteomic analyses and validated by parallel reaction monitoring. The results revealed that leucine and isoleucine increased cell proliferation, total antioxidant status (TAS), and the relative mRNA expression of occludin, as well as decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS)/TAS, IL-6, IL-1β, and TOS. When leucine and isoleucine were combined, MDA, TOS/TAS, and the relative mRNA expression levels of claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 increased when compared to leucine or isoleucine alone. Proteomics analyses revealed that leucine significantly upregulated the propanoate metabolism; valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation; and thermogenesis pathways, whereas isoleucine significantly upregulated the peroxisome and propanoate metabolism pathways. In conclusion, leucine protected MAC-T cells from H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress by generating more ATP to supplement energy demands, and isoleucine improved the deficit in peroxisome transport and promoted acetyl-CoA production. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the protective mechanisms of leucine and isoleucine against oxidative damage.

Gender-Specific Independent and Combined Effects of the Progesterone and 17-Hydroxyprogesterone on Metabolic Syndrome: From the Henan Rural Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Although the concentrations of progesterone (P4) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) have been correlated with some characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS), the relationships with MetS are inconclusive. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between P4 and 17-OHP with MetS.

METHODS

In all, the present study includes 4807 participants. Serum P4 and 17-OHP were measured through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines were used to assess the independent and combined effects of P4 and 17-OHP on MetS.

RESULTS

After adjusting for multiple variables, the positive association of P4 with MetS was observed in postmenopausal women (Third tertiles vs First tertiles: OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.20-1.86) and the negative association of 17-OHP with MetS was observed in men (Third tertiles vs First tertiles: OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.32-0.58). Compared with the combination of low P4 and low 17-OHP, the combination of high P4 and high 17-OHP were significantly related to MetS in postmenopausal women (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.18-2.48). Moreover, the combination of low P4 and high 17-OHP was negatively associated with MetS in men (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.24-0.69).

CONCLUSION

The association between P4 and MetS in postmenopausal women was positive, whereas 17-OHP was negatively associated with MetS in men. Additionally, their combination has a synergistic effect on MetS in postmenopausal women and an antagonistic effect on MetS in men.

New calogenin pregnane glycoside derivative from Huernia saudi- arabica and its Lipase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities

As ongoing investigation of Huernia saudi-arabica D.V.Field (Asclepiadaceae), a new steroidal pregnane glycoside (Huernioside A) was isolated from dichloromethane fraction (DCM); it was identified as 3β, 11, 14β, 20(R)-tetrahydroxy-pregna-5,9(11)-diene-3-O-β-D-thevetopyranosyl-(1-4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside(HCP) through analysis of 1D, 2D NMR besides ESI-MS data. The alcoholic extract of the aerial part (ALE), DCM and HCP showed inhibitory potential against pancreatic lipase compared to orilstat. Among the tested samples, the ALE and HCP exhibited a promising pancreatic lipase inhibitory commotion through IC₅₀ values of 0.61 ± 0.15, 1.23 ± 0.07 mg/ml (equivalent to 88.8 μM), respectively. HCP was prevailed to have a mixed mode of inhibition as exposed by enzyme kinetic studies. Hydrophobic interactions were the major forces involved in ligand enzyme interactions. In contrast, moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were evidenced for ALE and HCP (% inhibition: 24.8 ± 1.8 and 26.6 ± 2.5, respectively) compared to acarbose. This investigation is the first to report on the possible in vitro anti-obesity and anti-diabetic impact of H. saudi-arabica.

Medicinal plants with concomitant anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive effects as potential sources of dual acting therapies against diabetes and hypertension: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes and hypertension are pathophysiologically related diseases that co-exist with a wider complex of metabolic diseases having similar set of risk factors. There are numerous ethnopharmacological evidences on the anti-diabetic and/or anti-hypertensive properties of medicinal plants from various parts of the world, which are used as therapies to concomitantly manage diabetes and hypertension.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This article reviewed findings on medicinal plants with both anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive effects reported in same experimental study to facilitate the development of dual-acting therapies against diabetes and hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was carried out on different scientific search engines including, but not limited to "PubMed", "Google Scholar", "Scopus" and ScienceDirect to identify published data in which plants in same experimental studies were reported to possess both anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hypertensive effects. Subsequently, the anti-diabetic/anti-hypertensive potency ratio (ψ) of the medicinal plants was computed.

RESULTS

Sixty-four studies with 102 plant species matched the selection criteria. Members of the Fabaceae family were the most investigated plants, while the ψ greatly varied across the plants, with only 11 plants having a ψ ≃ 1. Withania somnifera Dunal was the only plant reported to show blood glucose-lowering and diuretic effects in humans, comparable to daonil. Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, caftaric acid, cichoric acid, verbascoside, leucosceptoside A, isoacteoside, fucoxanthin and nicotinamide were the reported dual acting anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive compounds identified and/or isolated in the plants.

CONCLUSIONS

This review suggests that medicinal plants possess varied therapeutic dynamics against hypertension and diabetes that could be exploited for the discovery of therapeutic preparation(s) or agent(s) for treating the two diseases.

A systematic review of antiglycation medicinal plants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The present review shows a list of anti-glycation plants with their anti-glycation activity mechanisms that can attract the attention of pharmacologist for further scientific research towards finding better remedy for diabetic complications.

MATERIALS

Google scholar, Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched. The terms were advanced glycation end products (AGEs), medicinal plants, antiglycation products.

RESULTS

plants that studied in this review inhibit glycation in several possible mechanisms. Some of these plants inhibit the production of shiff base and amadori products. The others inhibit the generation of amadori products in the advanced phase. Some others blocked the aggregation of AGEs and some plants have antioxidant activity and reduce AGEs formation by preventing oxidation of amadori product and metal-catalyzed glucoxidation.

CONCLUSION

This review can help pharmacologist to find antiglycation natural substance that can be useful in treatment of diabetic complications.

Phenolic compounds and bioactivity evaluation of aqueous and methanol extracts of Allium mongolicum Regel

Allium mongolicum Regel (AM), widely distributed in western China, is a traditional Mongolian medicine herb. Two different solvents as water and methanol were used to extract AM, and their antioxidant capacity and inhibitory effects against key enzymes related to metabolic syndrome were assessed. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated through the assay of radical scavenging ability on DPPH and ABTS and reducing power assays. In addition, the total phenolic content and total flavonoids content were quantificated and analyzed. Aqueous extract, having higher phenolic content (10.20 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid content (4.02 mg QE/g DW), showed better antioxidant and inhibitory effects against lipase and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); as for α-glucosidase, the extract made by methanol showed better ability. In general, the aqueous extract of A. mongolicum Regel has the potential to be used as a functional food or nutraceutical in prevention and treatment of obesity and hypertension due to the high antioxidant and sound inhibitory potential against vital enzymes relevant to obesity and hypertension.