Effect of Thunbergia laurifolia water extracts on hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Objective: To examine the effect of water extract of Thunbergia laurifolia on hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Methods: High-fat diet with 45 kcal% lard fat was used for obesity induction in ICR mice. The mice were fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks, and during the last 8 weeks, they were treated with 200 mg/ kg/day of water extracts from Thunbergia laurifolia leaf, stem and flower. Serum biochemistry, liver histology, and protein expression were examined after the treatment. Results: Extracts from all of the three parts of Thunbergia laurifolia significantly alleviated hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia. The stem and flower extracts improved glucose tolerance. All of the extracts significantly reduced serum TNFα and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels. Liver weight, triglyceride levels, and lipid accumulation were also decreased. Moreover, hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase level was significantly decreased, while the levels of PPARα, phosphorylated AMPK, and phosphorylated Akt were significantly increased with treatment of Thunbergia laurifolia extracts. Conclusions: Thunbergia laurifolia extracts can ameliorate hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice by improving glucose and lipid homeostasis, which may be associated with stimulating phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt pathways.

Effect of Thunbergia laurifolia water extracts on hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Objective: To examine the effect of water extract of Thunbergia laurifolia on hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Methods: High-fat diet with 45 kcal% lard fat was used for obesity induction in ICR mice. The mice were fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks, and during the last 8 weeks, they were treated with 200 mg/ kg/day of water extracts from Thunbergia laurifolia leaf, stem and flower. Serum biochemistry, liver histology, and protein expression were examined after the treatment. Results: Extracts from all of the three parts of Thunbergia laurifolia significantly alleviated hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia. The stem and flower extracts improved glucose tolerance. All of the extracts significantly reduced serum TNFα and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels. Liver weight, triglyceride levels, and lipid accumulation were also decreased. Moreover, hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase level was significantly decreased, while the levels of PPARα, phosphorylated AMPK, and phosphorylated Akt were significantly increased with treatment of Thunbergia laurifolia extracts. Conclusions: Thunbergia laurifolia extracts can ameliorate hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet-induced obese mice by improving glucose and lipid homeostasis, which may be associated with stimulating phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt pathways.

Anti-insulin resistant effect of ferulic acid on high fat diet-induced obese mice

Objective: To evaluate the insulin sensitivity action of ferulic acid (FA) in skeletal muscle and hypothalamus of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Methods: Obese mouse model was induced by HFD (45 kcal% lard fat) for 16 weeks. After 8 weeks of HFD feeding, these obese mice were orally treated with FA at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. At the end of all treatments, the epididymal fat, pancreas, skeletal muscle and hypothalamus were removed for biochemical parameter and protein expression examinations. Results: FA treatment significantly decreased leptin level in fat tissue and insulin level in pancreas (P < 0.05). Interestingly, obese mice treated with FA increased the protein expressions of insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and phosphorylated-protein kinase B in both muscle and brain (P < 0.05). The phosphorylations of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in muscle, and leptin receptor protein in hypothalamus were also increased (P < 0.05). The pancreatic islets histology showed smaller size in obese mice treated with FA compared to untreated obese mice. Conclusions: These findings indicate the beneficial effect of FA in improving insulin resistance in HFD-induced obese mice. These effects are probably mediated via modulating the insulin receptor substrate/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B or adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase pathways.

Cytoprotective activity of mulberry leaf extract against oxidative stress-induced cellular injury in rats

Morus alba Linn. [MA], mulberry leaves have been used as a beverage for prevention of various diseases including hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Recently, the antioxidant activities of the MA leaf extract have been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the MA leaf extract on free radical-induced cellular injury. In the in vitro models, the extract scavenged stable free radical [1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; DPPH] in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC[50] of 20.10 +/- 0.78 micro g/ml. The extract protected the erythrocytes from free radical [2, 2'-azobis [2-amidinopropane] dihydrochloride; AAPH]-induced hemolysis with an IC[50] of 74.22 +/- 9.87 micro g/ml. Additionally, the extract significantly prevented the gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion [I/R] in rats when given orally at doses of 0.25 and 0.50 g/kg/day for 3 consecutive days [p<0.05; n=7]. However, this effect was not found when the higher doses [1 and 2 g/kg/day] of the extract were tested. In conclusion, these results indicate that the MA leaf extract possesses the cytoprotective activity against free radical-induced cell injury. Therefore, when given at the appropriate dose range, the mulberry leaf may potentially be used as a food supplement in patients with certain diseases in which the oxidative stress-induced cellular injury is pathologically involved

Colchicine : New Look of the Old Drug

no abstract

Drugs Treatment of Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy

no abstract

Antigastric Ulcer Effect of Turmeric in Rats

Background: Dry powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa, turmeric or Kha-min (in Thai word), was claimed to have antiulcerogenic effect. However, the scientific evidences showing the effectiveness of turmeric in the treatment of gastric ulcer are still controversy. In order to elucidate the antipeptic activity of turmeric, therefore, we investigated the antiulcerogenic effect of turmeric powder and curcuminoid against indomethacin and hypothermic-restraint stress induced gastric ulcer in rats.Methods: Male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were used. Gastric lesion was induced by administration of indomethacin 12 mg kg-1 subcutaneously  and also by hypothermic-restraint stress. In the study of protective effect, the rats were pretreated with turmeric suspension in 10% propylene glycol orally at doses of 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75 g kg-1 for 3 days. In the investigation of healing effect, the gastric ulcer was induced and followed by administration of turmeric suspension or curcuminoid. Total length of gastric lesion was measured under the stereomicroscope and used as gastric ulcer indicator. Determinations of soluble and insoluble gastric mucus were performed by spectrophotometry method.Results: Turmeric at dose of 0.5 g kg-1  was not only significantly effective in protecting but also enhancing healing of gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin 12 mg kg-1 . Interestingly, turmeric at 0.75 g kg-1  had no antiulcerative effect, and showed a tendency to increase the severity of lesion as compared to control. The curcuminoid 5 mg kg-1  did not show any healing effect in indomethacin-induced ulcer but could significantly inhibit the gastric secretion of soluble mucus at 3.5 hr after curcuminoid administration.Conclusions: It may be concluded that Curcuma longa is effective in protecting indomethacin induced gastric ulcer and enhancing the healing of ulcer. This effect is dose dependent, and can be achieved only with proper dose.Key words: Curcuma longa, Turmeric, Gastric Ulcer, Kha-min