Characterization and Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Subfamily Erebinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Erebidae) Using Five Complete Mitochondrial Genomes.

In this study, the complete mitogenomes of Sympis rufibasis, Lacera noctilio, Oxyodes scrobiculata, Mocis undata, and Artena dotata were newly sequenced to bring up-to-date the database using the next-generation sequencing methods. The gene order of all sequenced mitogenomes was identical consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a non-coding A+T-rich region, which were common to other Lepidopteran insects. All protein-coding genes (PCGs) initiated with a canonical ATN codon and ended with TAN or an incomplete stop codon, single T. The A+T-rich region of S. rufibasis, L. noctilio, O. scrobiculata, M. undata, and A. dotata are 406 bp, 462 bp, 372 bp, 410 bp, and 406 bp long, respectively, containing number of characteristics that are distinctive to Noctuoidea moths. We analyzed concatenated amino acid sequences of protein-coding genes not including rRNAs, using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the tribe relationships within Erebinae were reconstructed as (Sypnini+((Erebini 1+Poaphilini 1)+((Euclidiini+Catocalini+(Hypopyrini+Erebini 2))+((Hulodini+(Poaphilini 2+Ophiusini))))). Phylogenetic analyses supported and confirmed the monophyly of the subfamilies' relationships as follows: (Hypeninae+Lymantriinae)+((Scoliopterginae+((Calpinae+Erebinae)+((Herminiinae+Aganainae)+Arctiinae)))) within Erebidae.

Phylogenomics including the newly sequenced mitogenomes of two moths (Noctuoidea, Erebidae) reveals Ischyja manlia (incertae sedis) as a member of subfamily Erebinae.

We sequenced the mitogenomes of two Erebid species, namely Ischyja manlia (Cramer, 1776) and Rusicada privata (Walker, 1865) to analyse the phylogenetic relationship and to establish the taxonomic position of incertae sedis members of the family Erebidae. The two circular genomes of I. manlia and R. privata were 15,879 bp and 15,563 bp long, respectively. The gene order was identical, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. The nucleotide compositions of the A + T-rich region of both mitogenomes were similar: 80.65% for R. privata, and 81.09% for I. manlia. The AT skew and GC skew were slightly positive in I. manlia and negative in R. privata. In I. manlia and R. privata, except for cox1 which started with CGA and TTG codons, all the other 12 PCGs started with ATN codon. The A + T-rich regions of I. manlia and R. privata were 433 and 476 bp long, respectively, and contained common characteristics of Noctuoidea moths. At present, Ischyja is treated as Erebinae incertae sedis. However, phylogenetic analysis conducted in the present study reveals that the genus Ischyja is most likely to be a member of the subfamily Erebinae.

Characterization of four mitochondrial genomes from superfamilies Noctuoidea and Hyblaeoidea with their phylogenetic implications.

In the present study, the newly sequenced mitogenomes of three Noctuoid and one Hyblaeoid (Insecta: Lepidoptera) species were annotated based on next-generation sequence data. The complete mitogenome lengths of Oraesia emarginata, Actinotia polyodon, Odontodes seranensis, and Hyblaea puera were 16,668 bp, 15,347 bp, 15,419 bp, and 15,350 bp, respectively. These mitogenomes were found to encode 37 typical mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, 2 ribosomal RNA) and a control region, similar to most Lepidoptera species. Maximum likelihood (ML) methods and Bayesian inference (BI) were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of the moths. This study showed the relationships of Noctuoid families as follows: (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + (Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)))). Furthermore, the species H. puera was separately clustered from the Noctuoidea member groups. Till now, the species from the superfamily Hyblaeoidea have not been discussed for their phylogenetic relationships. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of one species from the superfamily Hyblaeoidea was analysed.

Hepatoprotective effect of selected isoandrographolide derivatives on steatotic HepG2 cells and High Fat Diet fed rats.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is one of the growing epidemics of the globe. This study was aimed to evaluate the anti-NAFLD effect of selected IAN derivatives using in silico, in vitro and in vivo models. In silico tools viz., DataWarrior, SwissADME and Gaussian 09 were used to predict the pharmacokinetic properties and electronic distribution patterns of the derivatives; docking analysis was done with Autodock against PPARα. Toxicities of the derivatives were assessed in HepG2 cells using MTT assay. Anti-NAFLD efficacies of the derivatives were assessed in free fatty acid induced steatotic HepG2 cells. In vivo anti-NAFLD effect of active isoandrographolide (IAN) derivative, 19-propionyl isoandrographolide (IAN-19P) was assessed in High Fat Diet fed rats. In silico and in vitro studies indicated that IAN-19P showed improved drug-likeness and drug score. The toxicity of IAN-19P to HepG2 cells was comparatively less than IAN and other derivatives. In free fatty acid induced steatotic HepG2 cells, treatment with IAN-19P significantly lowered intracellular triglyceride content and leakage of LDH and transaminases. Treating High Fat Diet fed animals with IAN-19P significantly lowered plasma lipids, transaminases, LDH and GGT levels. The treatment with IAN-19P upregulated the expressions of PPARα and CPT-1. IAN-19P did not produce any noticeable adverse effect till 2 g/kg concentration in acute and 250 mg/kg concentration in subacute toxicity studies. This study indicated the beneficial effect of IAN-19P for the treatment of NAFLD; however robust investigations are needed to establish the potential of IAN-19P to treat NAFLD.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of fruit-piercing moth Eudocima phalonia (Linnaeus, 1763) (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the fruit piercing moth Eudocima phalonia (Linnaeus, 1763) (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) was sequenced and characterized (Genbank Accession No: KY196412). The complete mitogenome is a circular molecule of 15,575 bp length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rrnS and rrnL), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and an A + T-rich region (D-loop). The nucleotide composition of the genome is highly A + T biased, accounting for 80.67% of nucleotides. All tRNAs have putative secondary structures that are characteristic of mitochondrial tRNA. Most of the PCGs were initiated by typical ATN codons. Five genes were initiated by unusual codons. Cox1 gene was initiated by an unusual CGA codon and terminated by the typical stop codon GAA. Six genes ended with a single T. The A + T-rich region of 336 bp consisted of repetitive sequences, including two ATAGA motifs, a 19 bp poly-T stretch and three microsatellite-like regions ((TA)4, (TA)6 and two (TA)7). Moreover, three large tandem (one 40 bp and two 25 bp) repeated elements were identified in A + T-rich region. Phylogenetic analysis using PCGs revealed that Superfamily Noctuoidea is a monophyletic group.

Myoinositol ameliorates high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats through promoting insulin receptor signaling.

Mimosa pudica Linn. (Mimosaceae) has been traditionally used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in India. The present study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of myoinositol (25 and 50mg/kg) isolated from M. pudica stem methanol extract in Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic and high-fat diet (HFD) fed-streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-resistant diabetic rats. Lipid biomarkers, fasting blood glucose (FBG), changes in body weight, food and water intakes, plasma insulin, HOMA-IR, oral glucose tolerance, intraperitoneal insulin tolerance, urea, creatinine, marker enzymes of liver function, ß-cell function and the expression levels of insulin receptor-induced signaling molecules were studied. Molecular-docking was also carried out to determine the possible interactions of myoinositol into the active sites of insulin-induced signaling markers. In addition, histology of liver, pancreas, kidney, heart and adipose tissues were also performed. In Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats, myoinositol (25 and 50mg/kg) exhibited significant reductions in total cholesterol: 37.5% and 59.73%, triglycerides: 57.75% and 80.14% and LDL-c: 81.44% and 101.75% respectively. HFD fed-STZ receiving myoinositol (25 and 50mg/kg) showed significant reductions in fasting blood glucose: 55.68% and 56.48%, plasma insulin level: 25.45% and 27.06% when compared with diabetic control. It significantly normalized the hyperglycemia induced biochemical abnormalities in insulin-resistant diabetic rats. Furthermore, it demonstrated cytoprotective effects besides increase in the intensity of positive reaction for insulin in pancreas. Myoinositol enhanced the level of PPARγ expression in the adipose tissue of treated rats when compared with rats that did not receive drug treatment; also, it significantly upregulated GLUT4 and IR signaling molecules. Myoinositol had predicted the interactions within the active sites of PPARγ, GLUT4 and IR. These findings suggested that myoinositol could play an effective role in glucose disposal into adipose tissue by insulin-dependent signaling cascade mechanism; hence it could be used in the treatment of obesity-associated T2DM.