Modulatory effect of Artocarpus camansi on ILP-2, InR, and Imp-L2 genes of sucrose -induced diabetes mellitus in Drosophila melanogaster.

Diabetes mellitus continues to be a menace, being one of the five major causes of death in the world. In this study, the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, a well-studied genetic model organism for understanding molecular mechanisms of human diseases, and Artocarpus camansi (breadnut), an underutilized fruit, was used. This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycemic potentials of Artocarpus camansi fruit in sucrose-induced diabetic Drosophila melanogaster. Phytochemical screening was carried out after the fruit has been pulverized and freeze-dried. Total phenol content and total flavonoid content were carried out in vitro on the aqueous extract of Artocarpus camansi, and the result obtained showed that its phenol content is low, and its flavonoid content increases at increasing concentrations. Alpha-amylase inhibitory activity was carried out in vivo on sucrose-induced diabetic Drosophila melanogaster tissue. Gene expression profiling of Insulin-like peptide-2 (ILP-2), Insulin-like receptor (InR) and Ecdysone inducible gene L2 (Imp-L2) was carried out on trizol homogenate of Drosophila melanogaster tissue. In this study, Drosophila melanogaster was divided into nine groups. Group1 served as the basal control as they were fed with normal basal diet, group II served as the negative control which were fed with basal diet and 0.5 mL sucrose/100 mL distilled water, group III served as the positive control which were fed with basal diet 0.5 mL sucrose/100 mL distilled water and metformin, groups IV and V which were fed with basal diet and 0.1 and 1% Artocarpus camansi respectively, groups VI and VII were fed with basal diet, sucrose and 0.1 and 1% Artocarpus camansi respectively, groups VIII and IX served the purpose of the synergistic effect which were fed with basal diet, sucrose, metformin and 0.1 and 1% Artocarpus camansi respectively. All the groups were left for seven days. The experiment was conducted for 3 months and the fruit fly meals were changed every 5 days. Gene expression profiling results showed that the dietary inclusion of fruit downregulated the expression of ILP-2 and InR and upregulated the expression of Imp-L2 when the diabetic group were compared with the normal control. The results suggest that Artocarpus camansi fruit could possess antihyperglycemic properties and its use as a nutraceutical in the alleviation of diabetes should be encouraged.

Dietary supplementation of jute leaf (Corchorus olitorius) modulates hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity and oxidative status in high-fat fed/low streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Impaired liver function is associated with decreased hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity in diabetes mellitus. Hence, this study described the effect of dietary jute leaf (Corchorus olitorius) on hepatic δ-ALAD activity in high-fat fed combined with low-dose streptozotocin administered diabetic rats. Animals were fed diets containing 35% fat for 14 days prior to a single administration of low-dose (35 mg/kg body weight) streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Thereafter, the animals were randomly placed in groups and fed 100 mg/g jute leaf-supplemented diets for 30 days. The result showed that jute leaf supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the decreased hepatic δ-ALAD activity, increased hepatic catalase and SOD activity accompanying the decrease in serum AST and AST activities. This finding suggests that restoration of hepatic δ-ALAD activity, modulation of hepatic function biomarkers, and increase in antioxidant status could be possible underlying events mediating the hepatoprotective effect of jute leaf in diabetic conditions. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Decrease in hepatic δ-ALAD activity has been associated with diabetes-induced hepatotoxicity arising from prolonged and uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Therefore, increased δ-ALAD activity represents improved hepatic function in diabetic situations. Antidiabetic properties of jute leaf have been demonstrated but information on its effect on hepatic δ-ALAD is lacking. Thus, this study revealed that dietary supplementation of jute leaf restored hepatic δ-ALAD activities and improved liver antioxidant status in diabetic rats which is an indication of its hepatoprotective properties.