Beneficial effects of mangiferin isolated from Salacia chinensis on biochemical and hematological parameters in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Salacia chinensis L. is a traditional Southeast Asian herbal medicine and used in the treatment of diabetes. To investigate the antidiabetic properties of mangiferin from Salacia chinensis and its beneficial effect on toxicological and hematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Mangiferin was orally treated with the dose of 40 mg/kg body weight/day for 30 days to diabetic rats. Biochemical [blood glucose, uric acid, urea and creatinine], toxicological [AST, ALT and ALP] and hematological parameters [red and white blood cells] and their functional indices were evaluated in diabetic treated groups with mangiferin and glibenclamide. Mangiferin treated diabetic rats significantly [p<0.05] lowered the level of blood glucose, in addition, altered the levels of biochemical parameters including urea, uric acid, and creatinine. Toxicological parameters including AST, ALT and ALP were also significantly reduced after treatment with mangiferin in diabetic rats. Similarly, the levels of red blood, white blood cells and their functional indices were significantly improved through the administration of mangiferin. Thus, our results indicate that mangiferin present in S. chinensis possesses antidiabetic properties and nontoxic nature against chemically induced diabetic rats. Further experimental investigations are warrant to make use of its relevant therapeutic effect to substantiate its ethno-medicinal usage.

Extract of azadirachta indica [neem] leaf induces apoptosis in 4T1 breast cancer BALB/c mice

Azadirachta indica [Neem] has been used traditionally for many centuries. Some impressive therapeutic qualities have been discovered. However, the therapeutic effect of neem leaf extract in 4T1 breast cancer has not been documented. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of ethanolic Neem leaf extract in an in vivo 4T1 breast cancer model in mice. A total of 84 female BALB/c mice were divided randomly into 7 groups [3 non-cancerous groups and 4 cancerous groups] consisting of 12 mice per group. The 3 non-cancerous groups were normal mice treated with 0.5% of Tween 20 in phosphate buffer saline [PBS] [NC], 250 mg/kg Neem [N250] or 500 mg/kg Neem [N500]. The 4 cancerous groups were; cancer controls treated with 0.5% of Tween 20 in PBS [CC], and cancerous mice treated with 0.5 micro g/mL tamoxifen citrate [CT], 250 mg/kg Neem leaf extract [CN 250] or 500 mg/kg Neem leaf extract [CN 500]. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL] assays were used to evaluate apoptosis [cell death] in the breast cancer tissues. SPSS software, version 14 was used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.Non parametric analysis of variance [ANOVA] was performed with the Kruskal Wallis test for the TUNEL assays. Parametric data among the groups was compared using ANOVA. TUNEL assays showed that the CN 250 and CN 500 groups had a higher incidence of apoptosis compared with the cancer controls. The findings showed that neem leaf extract induces apoptosis in 4T1 breast cancer BALB/c mice