Recent Progress for the Utilization of Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum and Phoenix dactylifera Seeds against Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an important human disease afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. Even though modern medicines contribute a variety of effective treatment options, they can have several unfavourable effects. The intention of this review is to organize and discuss various studies that have been previously conducted on the effectiveness of these herbal plants in diabetes. Method: By using various electronic search databases, a comprehensive English literature search was conducted. Different search terms were used by combining all the search fields in titles, abstracts and keywords. Results: Curcuma longa,a spice, is commonly known as turmeric and belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. Piper nigrumis also a spice, commonly called black pepper, and belongs to the family Piperaceae. Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as date fruit, belongs to the family Arecaceae. From ancient times, they have been traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases. Among various activities, regulation of hyperglycaemia is considered one of their important effects. One of the aetiological factors implicated in the development of diabetes and its complications is the damage induced by free radicals. Antioxidant properties of antidiabetic compounds would be more beneficial. Extracts of these plants have shown hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects by the involvement of several mechanisms. In the future, further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms involved in their hypoglycaemic potential and their active constituents as synthetic analogues. Conclusions: This review focusses on some medicinal plants that have antidiabetic effect, thus contributing to the reduction of risk factors associated with diabetes, and related beneficial effects are compiled.

Anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative effects of 4-hydroxypipecolic acid in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice.

Hypoglycemic effect of ethanol extracts of Peganum harmala (commonly known as 'Harmal') seeds has been reported on normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In the present study, the authors determine anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative properties of 4-hydroxypipecolic acid (4-HPA) isolated from seeds of P. harmala in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. Twelve week old male mice were administered 50 mg/kg body weight (4-HPA suspension were made in 1% gum acacia) for the period of 10 days, and a significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose, plasma triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, free fatty acid, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was observed with respect to vehicle-treated db/db mice. The anti-oxidant activity of 4-hydroxypipecolic acid was studied in liver and kidney tissues by assessing malondialdehyde levels for lipid peroxidation and enzyme activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Treatment of 4-HPA significantly lowered the lipid peroxidation in hepatic and renal tissue and increased the activity of CAT, GSH-Px and SOD in treated mice.

Synthesis of alpha-amyrin derivatives and their in vivo antihyperglycemic activity.

Ficus racemosa belongs to the family of Moraceae and is commonly known as 'Gular' in north India. Bio-activity guided isolation work on the fruits of F. racemosa resulted in the identification of antidiabetic active principle, alpha-amyrin acetate 7. Compound 7 lowered the blood glucose levels by 18.4 and 17.0% at 5 and 24 h, respectively, in sucrose challenged streptozotocin induced diabetic rat (STZ-S) model at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Fifteen novel derivatives viz, 9-21, 24, 25 of alpha-amyrin 8 were prepared and their antihyperglycemic activity profile was assessed. The p-chlorobenzoic acid derivative 9 and nicotinic acid derivative 14 showed potent antihyperglycemic activity at 100 mg/kg body weight.

13C NMR spectroscopy of D and B, D-ring seco-limonoids of Meliaceae family.

The modified limonoids isolated from the Meliaceae are too complex or obtained in too small quantities to determine their structures by chemical and spectroscopic means, including 1H NMR. One method of dealing with such problem is direct crystallographic analysis, without or having a heavy atom, which requires an able crystallographic collaborator. The determination of the structure Utilin is one example. The analysis of the 13C NMR spectral data for different compounds has been very useful for the identification of the various skeletal types of limonoids and also for the determination of the substitution pattern. Owing to the great utilities that these data could help the scientific community, who are working in the area of limonoids, we here describe the application of NMR spectroscopy in the structure elucidation of D and B, D-ring seco-limonoids and a collection of 177 compound's 13C NMR spectral data.

Estimation of atrazine in the stratum corneum and its toxic effects in skin following topical application to rabbits.

ABSTRACT For risk assessment, a workable non-invasive method for the estimation of atrazine in skin was needed. Moreover, the dermato-toxic effects of different concentrations of atrazine have not been studied so far. Fifteen milligrams of 35% solution of atrazine in ethanol was topically applied to each of six different clipped sites on the back of rabbits (n = 6). Each site was tape-stripped with 10 consecutive adhesive tapes at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 h of topical dosing to remove the stratum corneum (SC). Atrazine in tapes was extracted with methanol and analyzed with HPLC. The amount of atrazine detected in the SC at 6 h (1955.79 +/- 47.22 mug) is equivalent to 13.03% of the total applied dose. In dermal toxicity studies, 500 mul of 35%, 70% atrazine in ethanol and a commercial preparation of atrazine (Balance(R)) was dosed on clipped backs of rabbits (n = 4) for 4 days under occluded vs non-occluded conditions. Ethanol alone served as control. On the 5th day, rabbits were euthanized and skin was scored for erythema and then examined microscopically. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in erythema scores were observed with 70% atrazine and Balance(R) as compared to the control under occluded conditions. Significant differences in epidermal thickness and cell layers were observed with Balance(R) and 74% atrazine as compared to control in both dosing conditions. There were non-significant differences in erythema, epidermal thickness, or cell layers in occluded vs non-occluded applications of atrazine in ethanol, indicating that atrazine is equally toxic regardless of its application procedures. Moreover, under non-occluded application, very slight erythema was observed but microscopically significant epidermal hyperplasia was noticed. This indicates that even if there are no significant gross skin manifestations of atrazine this can still produce significant damage to the epidermal barrier and hence can result in increase in penetration of self or other toxic substances.

Antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic agent from Aegle marmelos.

The plant Aegle marmelos belongs to the family of Rutaceae. From the leaves of A. marmelos an alkaloidal-amide, Aegeline 2, was isolated and found to have antihyperglycemic activity as evidenced by lowering the blood glucose levels by 12.9% and 16.9% at 5 and 24h, respectively, in sucrose challenged streptozotocin induced diabetic rats (STZ-S) model at the dose of 100mg/kg body weight. Aegeline 2 has also significantly decreased the plasma triglyceride (Tg) levels by 55% (P<0.001), total cholesterol (TC) by 24% (P<0.05), and free fatty acids (FFA) by 24%, accompanied with increase in HDL-C by 28% and HDL-C/TC ratio by 66% in dyslipidemic hamster model at the dose of 50mg/kg body weight. The reasonable mapping of compound 2 to validated pharmacophoric hypothesis and 3D QSAR model with an estimated activity (283nM) suggest that the compound 2 might be a beta(3)-AR agonist.

P53 mutations in carcinoma breast--a clinicopathological study.

OBJECTIVES: To find out the incidence of p53 mutations and their possible correlation with clinicopathological presentation in females with breast carcinoma. SETTINGS: Department of Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy four patients with operable carcinoma breast that underwent mastectomy were included in this prospective study. Tumour tissue specimens and peripheral blood samples were examined for p53 mutations. Age, tumour size, nodal status and histopathology was assessed in patients with and without p53 mutations. RESULTS: Ten (13.5%) patients showed p53 mutations in their tumour specimens while 64 (86.48%) had normally functioning p53 gene. Patients were divided into two groups, A (normally functioning p53), and B (mutated p53). Intraductal carcinoma was the most frequent histological variant(A = 57, B = 10), while lymph nodes were involved in 67.19% (A = 47) and 60% (B = 6) cases respectively. The age of patients and clinical parameters (tumour size, nodal status and histopathological diagnosis) were compared between the two groups and no statistically significant correlation between p53 mutations and clinicopathological parameters was found. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that p53 mutation is present in carcinoma breast in Pakistani population but there was no significant correlation between p53 mutation and tumour aggressiveness (size, nodal status and histopathology).

P53 mutations, polymorphisms, and haplotypes in Pakistani ethnic groups and breast cancer patients.

Inactivation of the p53 gene has been found to be associated with the pathogenesis of several neoplasias. Three biallelic polymorphisms in the p53 gene have been linked to predisposition to the development of various malignancies. These include a 16-bp duplication in intron 3 and BstU I and Msp I restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in exon 4 and intron 6, respectively. The prevalence of these polymorphisms was studied in breast cancer patients and nine major ethnic groups of Pakistan. Differences in allele frequencies for all three polymorphisms were observed among the various ethnic groups and breast cancer patients. The absence of the 16-bp duplication was common among the northern ethnic groups, being highest in the Hazara (0.90). The Msp I A1 allele frequency in the southern Makrani population was significantly higher in comparison with the other ethnic groups. In the cancer patients, the absence of the 16-bp duplication in combination with the BstU I Pro and absence of Msp I restriction site were the most frequent. In these patients, ten substitution mutations were found in the p53 gene, seven of which have been reported previously for breast cancer. The remaining three mutations have been found in other malignancies, but not in carcinoma of the breast.

Transverse ectopia of the testis: a case report.

A case of transverse ectopia of the testis in a man of 30 years is presented. The patient was admitted for a right inguinal herniorrhaphy and the finding of ectopic testis was accidental.

Comparative anthelminthic efficacy and safety of Caesalpinia crista seed and piperazine adipate in chickens with artificially induced Ascaridia galli infection.

The antiascarid activity of Caesalpinia crista Linn. seeds, popularly known as Karanjwa, was evaluated in chickens of the Fumi breed, suffering from artificially induced Ascaridia galli infection. Eggs per gram (EPG) counts were determined in the droppings of chickens prior and after treatment with powdered C. crista at doses of 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg of body weight along with its extracts in water and methanol in amounts representing 50 mg/kg of crude powder. The crude drug at the dose rates of 40 and 50 mg/kg and its methanol extract induced a significant (P < 0.001) effect on post-treatment days 10 and 15 while the 30 mg/kg dose was efficacious (P < 0.05) on day 15 only. However, the aqueous extract did not show significant results. These results suggest that a 50 mg/kg dose of C. crista seed powder, its equivalent methanolic extract and piperazine (200 mg/kg) are equieffective in treating the ascarid infection of poultry. The crude C. crista powder appears to be potent and safer than its methanol extract on the basis of the side effects observed.