Effects and mechanisms of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot in improving insulin resistance and podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diabetic kidney disease based on IRS1/PI3K/Akt pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot(TFA), the extracts from traditional Chinese medicine indicated for kidney diseases, on insulin resistance(IR) and podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) in diabetic kidney disease(DKD), and further to reveal the scientific connotation. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a TFA group, and a rosiglitazone(ROS) group. The modified DKD model was induced in rats by methods including high-fat diet feeding, unilateral nephrectomy, and streptozotocin(STZ) intraperitoneal injection. After modeling, the rats in the four groups were given double-distilled water, TFA suspension, and ROS suspension correspondingly by gavage every day. At the end of the 8th week of drug administration, all rats were sacrificed, and the samples of urine, blood, and kidney tissues were collected. The parameters and indicators related to IR and podocyte EMT in the DKD model rats were examined and observed, including the general condition, body weight(BW) and kidney weight(KW), the biochemical parameters and IR indicators, the protein expression levels of the key signaling molecules and structural molecules of slit diaphragm in the renal insulin receptor substrate(IRS) 1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt) pathway, foot process form and glomerular basement membrane(GBM) thickness, the expression of the marked molecules and structural molecules of slit diaphragm in podocyte EMT, and glomerular histomorphological characteristics. The results showed that for the DKD model rats, both TFA and ROS could improve the general condition, some biochemical parameters, renal appearance, and KW. The ameliorative effects of TFA and ROS were equivalent on BW, urinary albumin(UAlb)/urinary creatinine(UCr), serum creatinine(Scr), triglyceride(TG), and KW. Secondly, they could both improve IR indicators, and ROS was superior to TFA in improving fast insulin(FIN) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR). Thirdly, they could both improve the protein expression levels of the key signaling molecules in the IRS1/PI3K/Akt pathway and glomerulosclerosis in varying degrees, and their ameliorative effects were similar. Finally, both could improve podocyte injury and EMT, and TFA was superior to ROS. In conclusion, this study suggested that podocyte EMT and glomerulosclerosis could be induced by IR and the decreased activation of the IRS1/PI3K/Akt pathway in the kidney in DKD. Similar to ROS, the effects of TFA in inhibiting podocyte EMT in DKD were related to inducing the activation of the IRS1/PI3K/Akt pathway and improving IR, which could be one of the scientific connotations of TFA against DKD. This study provides preliminary pharmacological evidence for the development and application of TFA in the field of diabetic complications.

Desenvolvimento de bolo enriquecido com farinha de quiabo (Hibiscus esculentus l) / Development of cake enriched with okra flour (Hibiscus esculentus l)

Entre os produtos de panificação, o bolo apresenta grande importância no Brasil, sendo que a principal farinha usada na sua preparação é a de trigo. Visando melhorar o valor nutritivo do bolo observou-se que o quiabo é uma importante fonte de nutrientes. Nesse contexto, objetivou- -se enriquecer um bolo com farinha de quiabo (FQ). Foram elaboradas três formulações de bolo (padrão, 10% e 15% de farinha de quiabo) e posteriormente realizaram-se os testes de Escala Hedônica e Pareado de Preferência. Foram determinados composição centesimal e vida de prateleira do bolo preferido. As duas formulações de bolos obtiveram boa aceitação, sendo a formulação com 10% de farinha de quiabo preferida. O bolo analisado apresentou teor de umidade de 33%, 1,82% de cinzas, 14,67 de lipídios, 3,57% de proteínas e 46,94 de carboidratos. Verificou-se vida de prateleira de cinco dias sob temperatura ambiente. Dessa forma o bolo elaborado com 10% de FQ mostrou-se como uma boa opção alimentar pois, além do alto valor nutritivo, o produto apresentou uma boa aceitação.(AU)

Among the baked goods, the cake is very important in Brazil. Aiming to improve the nutritive value of the cake It was observed that okra is an important source of α-tocopherol and minerals. In this context, it was enriched a cake with okra flour (CF). Two cake formulations were elaborated and the Hedonic and Pareto Preference tests were performed. Microbiological analysis and determination of shelf life. The work was submitted to the Ethics Committee. As two cakes formulations obtained good acceptance, being a preferred formulation A. Microbiological analysis of the cakes and the results obtained for total coliforms, molds and yeasts, as well as absence of Salmonella sp. Shelf life of 5 days was verified.

Season-dependent mineral accumulation in fruits of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

Season-dependent mineral accumulation was recorded in fruits of Okra and Tomato. The highest concentration was in summer in Okra and in winter in Tomato. Lowest concentrations were in winter in Okra and rainy in Tomato. Both crop plants indicated that the mineral contents were in the order of P > K > Ca > Mg > Na > Fe which also signify their relative functional importance in growth and metabolism.