Antidiabetic Properties of Plant Secondary Metabolites

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is one of the major medical problems that the modern world is currently facing. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus both result in early disability and death, as well as serious social and financial problems. In some cases, synthetic drugs can be quite effective in the treatment of diabetes, though they have side effects. Plant-derived pharmacological substances are of particular interest. This review aims to study the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites. Existing review and research articles on the investigation of the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites, the methods of their isolation, and their use in diabetes mellitus, as well as separate articles that confirm the relevance of the topic and expand the understanding of the properties and mechanisms of action of plant metabolites, were analyzed for this review. The structure and properties of plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, including plant antioxidants, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and insulin-like plant substances, as well as their antidiabetic properties and mechanisms for lowering blood sugar, are presented. The main advantages and disadvantages of using phytocomponents to treat diabetes are outlined. The types of complications of diabetes mellitus and the effects of medicinal plants and their phytocomponents on them are described. The effects of phytopreparations used to treat diabetes mellitus on the human gut microbiota are discussed. Plants with a general tonic effect, plants containing insulin-like substances, plants-purifiers, and plants rich in vitamins, organic acids, etc. have been shown to play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the prevention of its complications.

In Vitro Study of Biological Activity of Tanacetum vulgare Extracts

Tanacetum vulgare is an herbaceous plant widely used in folk medicine. It is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which have pharmacological and medicinal properties, such as anthelmintic, antispasmodic, tonic, antidiabetic, diuretic, and antihypertensive. This study aimed to confirm the presence of biologically active substances in Tanacetum vulgare and to determine the pharmacological spectrum of biological activity of Tanacetum vulgare extract components. When preparing Tanacetum vulgare extracts, the highest yield was observed when using the maceration method with a mixture of solvents methanol + trifluoroacetic acid (22.65 ± 0.68%). The biologically active substances in Tanacetum vulgare extract samples were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Biologically active substances such as luteolin-7-glucoside (550.80 mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (5945.40 mg/kg), and rosmarinic acid (661.31 mg/kg) were identified. Their structures were determined. The experiments have confirmed the antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Secondary metabolites of Tanacetum vulgare extracts have been found to have previously unknown biological activity types; experimental confirmation of their existence will advance phytochemical research and lead to the development of new drugs.

The psychological burden of disease among patients undergoing cervical spine surgery: Are we underestimating our patients' inherent disability?

BACKGROUND

Studies have utilized psychological questionnaires to identify the psychological distress among certain surgical populations.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is there an additional psychological burden among patients undergoing surgical treatment for their symptomatic degenerative cervical disease?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients>18 years of age with symptomatic, degenerative cervical spine disease were included and prospectively enrolled. Correlations and multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between these mental health components (PCS, FABQ) and the severity of disability described by the NDI, EQ-5D, and mJOA score. Patient distress scores were compared to previously published benchmarks for other diagnoses.

RESULTS

47 patients were enrolled (age: 56.0 years,BMI: 29.7kg/m²). Increasing neck disability and decreasing EQ-5D were correlated with greater PCS and FABQ(all P<0.001). Patients with severe psychological distress at baseline were more likely to report severe neck disability, while physician-reported mJOA had weaker associations. Compared to historical controls of lumbar patients, patients in our study had greater levels of psychological distress, as measured by FABQ (40.0 vs. 17.6; P<0.001) and PCS (27.4 vs. 19.3;P<0.001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Degenerative cervical spine patients seeking surgery were found to have a significant level of psychological distress, with a large portion reporting severe fear avoidance beliefs and catastrophizing pain at baseline. Strong correlation was seen between patient-reported functional metrics, but less so with physician-reported signs and symptoms. Additionally, this population demonstrated higher psychological burden in certain respects than previously identified benchmarks of patients with other disorders. Preoperative treatment to help mitigate this distress, impact postoperative outcomes, and should be further investigated.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Study of the Antioxidant Properties of Filipendula ulmaria and Alnus glutinosa

The demographic situation of the last few decades is characterized by the increased numbers of elderly and senile people, i.e., by the aging of the population. In humans, ageing is closely associated with the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), development of systemic inflammation and related vascular atherosclerotic alterations and metabolic disorders, like obesity, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases. As these age-related alterations are directly associated with up-regulation of ROS production and development of chronic oxidative stress, their onset can be essentially delayed by continuous daily consumption of dietary antioxidants-natural products of plant origin. Such antioxidants (in the form of plant extracts, biologically active complexes or individual compounds) can be supplemented to functional foods, i.e., dietary supplementations for daily diet aiming prolongation of active life and delay of the senescence onset. Thereby, use of widely spread medicinal plants might essentially improve cost efficiency of this strategy and availability of antioxidant-rich functional foods. Therefore, here we addressed, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, the antioxidant activity of the extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Filipendula ulmaria and Alnus glutinosa growing in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, and assessed the contents of the biologically active substances underlying these properties. It was found that the extract prepared with the leaves of Filipendula ulmaria and female catkins of Alnus glutinosa demonstrated high antioxidant activity, although the former plant was featured with a higher antioxidant potential. The highest antioxidant activity detected in the methanol extracts of Alnus glutinosa reached 1094.02 ± 14.53 µmol TE/g, radical scavenging of activity was 584.45 ± 35.3 µmol TE/g, reducing capacity at interaction with iron complex-471.63 ± 7.06 µmol TE/g. For the methanol extracts of Filipendula ulmaria the antioxidant activity reached 759.78 ± 19.08 µmol TE/g, antioxidant activity for free radical removal was 451.08 ± 24.45 µmol TE/g and antioxidant activity for restorative ability with iron complex was 332.28 ± 10.93 µmol TE/g. These values are consistent with the total yields of the extracts and their content of ellagic acid. The ethyl acetate extracts of the both plants showed just minimal antioxidant activity. Thus, the considered extracts have an essential potential. This creates good prospects for the further use of herbal extracts of Filipendula ulmaria and Alnus glutinosa as a source of natural antioxidants.

Antimicrobial Screening and Fungicidal Properties of Eucalýptus globulus Ultrasonic Extracts

The prohibition of antibiotics has led to extensive research and use of phytogenic feed additives. James Barrie Kirkpatrick described four subspecies of eucalyptus (family Myrtaceae), including Eucalýptus globulus, in 1974. The maximum concentrations of quercetin-3D-glycoside (1703.30 g/mL), astragalin (1737.82 g/mL), chlorogenic acid (342.14 g/mL), catechin (282.54 g/mL), rosmarinic acid (36.39 g/mL), and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (27.55 g/mL) were found in samples of ultrasonic extraction with ethyl alcohol (extraction module 1:5, temperature of 32 °C, an ultrasonic exposure time of 25 min). Antimicrobial activity was observed in all studied samples after 12 h of incubation (against gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria, as well as representatives of yeast fungi (Candida albicans)); a more pronounced antimicrobial effect (lysis zone) was observed after ultrasonic processing of extracts for 20 and 25 min. Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans had lysis areas of 10.0 mm (20 min extraction with ultrasonic treatment), 13.0 mm (20 min extraction without ultrasonic treatment), and 15.5 mm (25 min extraction with ultrasonic treatment), respectively. E. globulus was demonstrated to be a source of biologically active phenolic compounds with antibacterial and fungicidal activity. More research on the use of E. globulus in feed additives is required.

Chemical Composition and Content of Biologically Active Substances Found in Cotinus coggygria, Dactylorhiza maculata, Platanthera chlorantha Growing in Various Territories

Medicinal plants (Cotinus coggygria, Dactylorhiza maculata, Platanthera chlorantha) growing in various territories (Kaliningrad, Moscow, and Minsk regions) were the objects of research. This paper presents a study of the chemical composition of these plants. To analyze the qualitative and quantitative composition of biologically active substances, the method of high-performance liquid chromatography was used. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to study the content of trace elements. The content of organic acids and vitamins was determined by capillary electrophoresis using the Kapel-105/105M capillary electrophoresis system with high negative polarity. Extracts of medicinal plants were obtained on a Soxhlet apparatus using 70% ethanol as an extractant. It was found that among the biologically active substances in the plants under discussion, hyperoside, rutin (C. coggygria), Ferulic acid and Gallic acid (D. maculata), triene hydrocarbon (3,7-Dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene), unsaturated alcohol (3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol), and benzyl acetate (P. chlorantha) prevailed. Samples of these medicinal plants contained trace elements (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and sulfur) and many aliphatic organic acids (succinic acid, benzoic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid). The largest amount of biologically active substances and secondary metabolites of the studied plants from the Eastern Baltic is associated with climatic and ecological differences from other regions. The composition of these plants determines the potential of their use in feed additives for livestock and poultry as part of measures to improve the quality of livestock products. The use of medicinal plants for the production of feed additives is relevant in terms of improving regional economies, as well as improving the quality of life and nation’s health by providing ecologically clean livestock products.