Fenugreek seed extract alleviates hippocampal dendritic atrophy in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats / El extracto de semillas fenugreek alivia la atrofía dendrítica del hipocampo en ratas diabéticas inducidas por estreptozotocina

SUMMARY: Herbal extracts used for treatment of diabetes has focused mostly on the hypoglycaemic and anti-oxidant property.There are no studies which focused on its effect on dendritic architecture of pyramidal neurons of hippocampus caused by diabetes. This study was taken up to explore the effect of administration of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed extract on diabetes induced dendritic atrophy in hippocampus. Experimental diabetes was induced in rats by administering single dose of Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg)intraperitoneally.Treatment groups of rats were orally administeredfenugreek seed extract of 1 g/kg body weight for 6 weeks. Followingly they were sacrificed and the brains were removed, processed for the Golgi-Cox stain method.The number of dendritic branching points and intersections were counted in successive radial segments of 20 µm up to a radial distance of 100 micron from soma and analysed by the Sholl's method. The rats with diabetes showed a significant decrease in the dendritic length and branching points in most of the apical and basal dendrites of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons.Treatment with fenugreek seed extract were able to significantly alleviate the dendritic atrophy in most of the segments except in the apical branching points of the CA1 neuron. The present study demonstrates that fenugreek seed extract having a proven hypoglycaemic and anti-diabetic property also possess protection to the hippocampal pyramidal neurons form diabetes associated neuronal atrophy.

RESUMEN: Los extractos de hierbas para el tratamiento de la diabetes se han basado principalmente en las propiedades hipoglucémicas y antioxidantes. En la literatura no hay estudios basados en su efecto sobre la arquitectura dendrítica de las neuronas piramidales del hipocampo, causadas por la diabetes. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el efecto de la administración de extracto de semilla de Trigonella foenum graecum (fenogreco) sobre la atrofia dendrítica inducida por la diabetes en el hipocampo. Se indujo diabetes experimental en ratas mediante la administración de una dosis única de estreptozotocina (60 mg / kg) por vía intraperitoneal. Se administró a grupos de ratas extracto de semilla de fenogreco a razón de 1 g / kg de peso corporal durante 6 semanas. Las ratas fueron sacrificadas posteriormente y se procesaron los cerebros mediante método de tinción de Golgi-Cox. El número de puntos de ramificación dendrítica e intersecciones se contaron en segmentos radiales sucesivos de 20 µm hasta una distancia radial de 100 micras del soma y se analizaron mediante el método de Sholl. Las ratas con diabetes mostraron una disminución significativa en la longitud dendrítica y los puntos de ramificación en la mayoría de las dendritas apicales y basales de las neuronas piramidales CA1 y CA3. El tratamiento con extracto de semilla de fenogreco alivió significativamente la atrofia dendrítica en la mayoría de los casos, excepto en los puntos de ramificación apical de la neurona CA1. El estudio demuestra que el extracto de semilla de fenogreco además de tener propiedades hipoglucémicas y antidiabéticas, también protege las neuronas piramidales del hipocampo contra la atrofia neuronal asociada a la diabetes.

Diseño de alimentos novedosos a base de fenogreco: valoración nutricional, características organolépticas, aceptabilidad y satisfacción / Design of novel foods based on fenugreek: nutritional assessment, organoleptic properties, acceptability and satisfaction

El fenogreco es una planta forrajera que pertenece a la familia Leguminoceae. Su nombre científico es Trigonella foenum graecum (heno griego) y se la conoce también como alholva. Se han descripto siete especies, entre las cuales se destacan Trigonella gladiata, Trigonella coerulea y Trigonella foenum graecum1 . Dado que no se conocen las numerosas propiedades de Trigonella, el objetivo de este trabajo fue diseñar alimentos novedosos y/o realizar modificaciones de alimentos existentes empleando fenogreco como materia prima, estudiar sus características organolépticas, cuantificar sus macronutrientes y compuestos antioxidantes, realizar la evaluación nutricional de los productos obtenidos, su aceptabilidad y potencial aplicación en pacientes diabéticos. El estudio es de tipo exploratorio-descriptivo, mientras que el diseño es no experimental-transversal. Se elaboraron exitosamente diferentes productos alimenticios con y sin semillas de fenogreco: pancitos saborizados (porción 50 g), barritas de cereales (porción de 20 g) y tartaletas de atún, queso y aceitunas (porción de 15 g). Las preparaciones con fenogreco tuvieron gran aceptabilidad en la población encuestada. Los resultados de cuantificación de macronutrientes indican que la semilla de fenogreco posee 56 g de carbohidratos totales, 30 g de carbohidratos reductores, 2,02 g de compuestos fenólicos, 28 g de proteínas, 7,8 g de grasas y 27 g de fibras (en 100 g de semilla), convirtiéndo lo en un alimento completo nutricionalmente y aceptable para incluir en la dieta de las poblaciones que lo tengan a su alcance.

Fenugreek is a fodder plant in the family Leguminoseae. Its scientific name is Trigonella foenum graecum (Greek hay) also known as alholva. Seven species have been described, including Trigonella gladiata, Trigonella coerulea and Trigonella foenum graecum1 . Since the several properties of Trigonella are unknown, the purpose of this paper was to design novel foods and/or modify existing foods using fenugreek as raw material, study its organoleptic properties, quantify its macronutrients and antioxidant compounds, perform the nutritional assessment of products obtained, their acceptability and potential use in diabetic patients. This is an exploratory-descriptive study, whereas the design is non-experimental-transversal. Different food products were successfully manufactured with and without fenugreek seeds: savory bread (serving 50 g), cereal bar (serving 20 g) tuna, cheese and olives cakes (serving 15 g). Preparations with fenugreek were fully accepted by the population surveyed. The results obtained by the quantification of macronutrients show that fenugreek seed contains 56 g total carbohydrates, 30 g reducing carbohydrates, 2,02 g phenolic compounds, 28 g proteins, 7,8 g fat and 27 g fiber (in 100 g of seeds); making it a completely nutritional and acceptable food to be included in a diet for the populations who can afford it.

In vitro estrogenic activities of fenugreek Trigonella foenum graecum seeds.

Background & objectives: Trigonella foenum graecum commonly known as fenugreek, has been widely cultivated in Asia, Africa and Mediterranean countries for the edible and medicinal values of its seeds. Earlier reports show that fenugreek seeds provide a mastogenic effect resulting in enhanced breast size. However, very little is known about its estrogenic effect. The present study investigated the effect of chloroform extracts of fenugreek seeds (FCE) in breast cancer cells for its estrogenic effect, and to assess its capacity as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Methods: The effect of FCE on cell proliferation of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells, MCF-7 was studied by MTT assay at a concentration range of 20 to 320 μg/ml. The competitive ER binding assay (HAP assay) was done to find out the ER binding capacity of the extract. Transfection and reporter assay (DLR assay), and RT- PCR with an estrogen responsive gene pS2 were done to find out the transcriptional regulatory activity of FCE. Results: FCE stimulated the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, showed binding to ER (IC50 = 185.6 ± 32.8 μg/ml) and acted as an agonist for ER mediated transcription via ERE. It also induced the expression of estrogen responsive gene pS2 in MCF-7 cells. Interpretation & conclusion: Our study provided the evidence for estrogenic activities of fenugreek seeds. Further in vitro and in vivo studies could demonstrate its suitability as an alternative to HRT.

Insulin sensitizing actions of fenugreek seed polyphenols, quercetin & metformin in a rat model.

Background & objectives: Plant polyphenols have been known to exert anti-diabetic action and promote insulin action. The present study was carried out to compare the effects of administration of fenugreek seed polyphenolic extract (FPEt), quercetin and metformin (a positive control) in an acquired model of insulin resistance (IR). Methods: Adult male Wistar rats divided into seven groups (n=12). IR was induced in groups (groups 2, 3, 4 and 5) by feeding a high fructose diet (FRU) (60 g/100 g diet) for 60 days. From day 16, FRU rats were administered either FPEt (200 mg/kg bw) (group 3), quercetin (50mg/kg bw) (group 4) or metformin (50 mg/kg bw) (group 5) for the next 45 days. Group 1 served as normal control while groups 6 and 7 served as FPEt and quercetin controls respectively. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done on day 59 to assess glucose tolerance. At the end of 60 days, the levels of glucose, insulin, triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured in the blood and the activities of insulin-inducible and suppressible enzymes in cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of liver and skeletal muscle. The extent of tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in response to insulin was determined by assaying protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) in liver. Results: Fructose caused increased levels of glucose, insulin, TG and FFA, alterations in insulin sensitivity indices, enzyme activities and reduced glycogen content. Higher PTP activity and lower PTK activity suggest reduced tyrosine phosphorylation status. Administration of FPEt or quercetin improved insulin sensitivity and tyrosine phosphorylation in fructose-fed animals and the effect was comparable with that of metformin. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings indicated that FPEt and quercetin improved insulin signaling and sensitivity and thereby promoted the cellular actions of insulin in this model.

Efficacy of lower doses of vanadium in restoring altered glucose metabolism and antioxidant status in diabetic rat lenses.

Vanadium compounds are potent in controlling elevated blood glucose levels in experimentally induced diabetes. However the toxicity associated with vanadium limits its role as therapeutic agent for diabetic treatment. A vanadium compound sodium orthovanadate (SOV) was given to alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats in lower doses in combination with Trigonella foenum graecum, a well-known hypoglycemic agent used in traditional Indian medicines. The effect of this combination was studied on lens morphology and glucose metabolism in diabetic rats. Lens, an insulin-independent tissue, was found severely affected in diabetes showing visual signs of cataract. Alterations in the activities of glucose metabolizing enzymes (hexokinase, aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase) besides the levels of related metabolites, [sorbitol, fructose, glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH)] were observed in the lenses from diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with insulin (2 IU/day), SOV (0.6 mg/ml), T. f. graecum seed powder (TSP, 5%) and TSP (5%) in combination with lowered dose of vanadium SOV (0.2 mg/ml), for a period of 3 weeks. The activity of the enzymes, hexokinase, aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase was significantly increased whereas the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase decreased significantly in lenses from 3 week diabetic rats. Significant increase in accumulation of metabolites, sorbitol, fructose, glucose was found in diabetic lenses. TBARS measure of peroxidation increased whereas the levels of antioxidant GSH decreased significantly in diabetic condition. Insulin restored the levels of altered enzyme activities and metabolites almost to control levels. Sodium orthovanadate (0.6 mg/ml) and Trigonella administered separately to diabetic animals could partially reverse the diabetic changes, metabolic and morphological, while vanadate in lowered dose in combination with Trigonella was found to be the most effective in restoring the altered lens metabolism and morphological appearance in diabetes. It may be concluded that vanadate at lowered doses administered in combination with Trigonella was the most effective in controlling the altered glucose metabolism and antioxidant status in diabetic lenses, these being significant factors involved in the development of diabetic complications, that reflects in the reduced lens opacity.

Larvicidal activity of plant extracts used alone and in combination with known synthetic larvicidal agents against Aedes aegypti.

Larvicidal activity of acetone and petroleum ether extracts of four plants Murraya koenigii, Coriandrum sativum, Ferula asafoetida, Trigonella foenum graceum and synthetic larvicides Fenthion and Temephos used alone and in combination was carried out against A. aegypti larvae under laboratory conditions. Optimum values were found out by using different concentrations of each plant (ranged 25 ppm-900 ppm) and both synthetic larvicides (ranged 0.01-7.5 ppm). The synergistic study was carried out by using 0.05 ppm of Temephos and Fenthion with 25ppm of M. koenigii, F. asafetida, T. foenum graceum and 100 ppm of C. sativum. All the plants showed potential synergistic activity although showed comparatively poor larvicidal activity when tested individually.

Biochemical, nutritional and pharmacological evaluation of the antiarthritic activity of some Egyptian plants

The antiarthritic activity of some bioactive extracts of fenugreek seeds and Liquorice roots and the whole coriander fruit powder were tested in rats in which adjuvant arthitis was induced in comparison with two synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs. The results of the tested natural agents showed a significant inhibition of the inflammed regions with different degrees. The highest inhibition was due to the petroleum ether extract of fenugreek [67%] followed by the aqueous methanolic extract of liquorice [65%]. Biochemically administration of the natural agents or reference drugs to arthritic rats produced pronounced improvement of the level of certain biochemical parameters reflecting the arthritic state in rate; such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum seromucoids, copper, fibrinogen, albumin and albumin: globulin ratio. Nutritionally arthritic rats lost weight significantly if compared with control normal ones. Administration of urbason retard to arthritic rats produced a significant reduction in body weight and food efficiency ratio if compared to control arthritic, while aqueous methanolic extract of fenugreek produced a significant increase in body weight. No significant changes in total food intake were noticed among the different groups receiving the tested agents