Active peptides with hypoglycemic effect obtained from hemp (Cannabis sativa L) protein through identification, molecular docking, and virtual screening.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L) seeds are rich in proteins of high nutritional value, which makes the study of beneficial properties of hemp seed proteins and peptides, such as hypotensive and hypoglycemic effects, increasingly attractive. The present results confirm the good processability and stability of the hemp protein hydrolysate obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of non-dehulled hemp seed meal (NDHM). Six peptides with potential hypoglycemic activity were obtained by ethanol-graded precipitation, Nano LC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS mass spectrometry, and computerized virtual screening. Further, validation experiments for in vitro synthesis showed that TGLGR, SPVI, FY, and FR exhibited good α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, respectively. Animal experiments showed that the hemp protein peptides modulated blood glucose and blood lipids in hyperglycemic rats. These results indicate that hemp protein peptides can reduce blood glucose levels in hyperglycemic rats, suggesting that hemp proteins may be a promising natural source for the prevention and treatment of hyperglycemia.

Exploration of the hypoglycemic effect of Anoectochilus roxburghii alcohol extracts on diabetic zebrafish models / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective The aim of this study is to explore the hypoglycemic effect of active components of Anoectochilus roxburghii on zebrafish models. Methods Anoectochilus roxburghii components were extracted and separated into three groups: the alcohol extraction group, macromolecular polysaccharide group (≥ 5 ×103) and small molecular polysaccharide group (＜5×103). Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 2% glucose solution (2% Glu) at 24 h to imitate acute hyperglycemia phenotype, and then treated with the three Anoectochilus roxburghii components. Based on this high-glucose model, the zebrafish embryos at 72 h were collected to detect the whole tissue glucose value. Furthermore, semi-quantitative PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization were performed to detect the expression of mRNA levels of glycometabolism-related genes. Results An acute diabetic zebrafish model was induced by high glucose stress. In this model, some key factors during glycometabolism such as insulin, pck-1 and pdx-1 were significantly affected, while the alcohol extracts of Anoectochilus roxburghii obviously reversed these abnormalities induced by high glucose stress, even to normal levels. Conclusions The alcohol extracts of Anoectochilus roxburghii has obvious hypoglycemic effect on diabetic zebrafish model. Our result suggest that Anoectochilus roxburghii has a potential application in the hypoglycemic drug screening.

Viability of primary cultured retinal neurons in a hyperglycemic condition.

The retina of Wistar rats within 1-3 days of birth were dissociated into a retinal cell suspension using 0.05% trypsin digestion. The cell suspension was incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium for 24 hours, followed by neurobasal medium for 5-7 days. Nissl staining showed that 79.86% of primary cultured retinal cells were positive and immunocytochemical staining showed that the purity of anti-neurofilament heavy chain antibody-positive cells was 71.53%, indicating that the primary culture system of rat retinal neurons was a reliable and stable cell system with neurons as the predominant cell type. The primary cultured retinal neurons were further treated with 0, 5.5, 15, 25, and 35 mM glucose for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide test and flow cytometry showed that with increasing glucose concentration and treatment duration, the viability of retinal neurons was reduced, and apoptosis increased. In particular, 35 mM glucose exhibited the most significant effect at 72 hours. Thus, rat retinal neurons treated with 35 mM glucose for 72 hours can be used to simulate a neuronal model of diabetic retinopathy.