Polyherbal extract improves glycometabolic control in alloxan-induced diabetic rats via down-regulating the MAPK/JNK pathway, modulating Nrf-2/Keap-1 expression, and stimulating insulin signaling.

Objectives: This study focused on the evaluation of antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of polyherbal extract (PHE), containing Cassia absus (L.), Gymnema sylvestre (R. Br.), Nigella sativa (L.), and Piper nigrum (L.), in alloxan-induced diabetes model. Materials and Methods: In vitro, HPLC characterization, DPPH scavenging assay, and α-amylase inhibition test were conducted. In vivo, acute oral toxicity of PHE was assessed. Alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats (n=6) were orally treated with PHE (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg/day) and glibenclamide (GLB; 10 mg/kg/day) for six consecutive weeks. Then, biochemical biomarkers, oxidative stress parameters, histopathological examination, and mRNA expression levels (RT-qPCR) were determined. Results: The presence of polyphenols in PHE was confirmed in correlation to marked DPPH scavenging (IC50: 1.60 mg/ml) and α-amylase inhibition (IC50: 0.82 mg/ml). PHE demonstrated no toxicity in rats up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg. In diabetic rats, PHE dose-dependently ameliorated the serum levels of glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), leptin, and glucokinase (GCK). Also, PHE substantially alleviated serum inflammatory markers (TNF-α and CRP) and oxidative stress indicators (MDA, SOD, and CAT) in pancreatic tissues. PHE, particularly at 600 mg/kg, attenuated cellular oxidative stress via modulating the mRNA expression levels of genes regulating MAPK/JNK (Mapk-8, Traf-4, and Traf-6) and Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathways and promoted insulin signaling through up-regulating insulin signaling cascade (Pdx-1, Ins-1, and Ins-2), as compared to GLB. Furthermore, histopathological findings supported the aforementioned results. Conclusion: Our study suggests that polyherbal extract has promising antioxidant and antidiabetic activities by modulating the MAPK/JNK, Nrf-2/Keap-1, and insulin signaling pathways.

Role of medicinal herbs and phytochemicals in post burn management.

Burn management is a natural and distinctly programmed process involving overlapping phases of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. Burn wound healing involves initiation of inflammation, re-epithelialization, granulation, neovascularization and wound contraction. Despite the availability of multiple preparations for management of burn wound, there is dire need for efficacious alternative agents. Current approaches for burn wound management include pharmaceutical agents and antibiotics. However, high cost of synthetic drugs and accelerated resistance to antibiotics is challenging for both developed and developing nations. Among alternative options, medicinal plants have been a biocompatible, safe and affordable source of preventive/curative approaches. Due to cultural acceptance and patient compliance, there has been a focus on the use of botanical drugs and phytochemicals for burn wound healing. Keeping in consideration of medicinal herbs and phytochemicals as suitable therapeutic/adjuvant agents for burn wound management, this review highlights therapeutic potential of 35 medicinal herbs and 10 phytochemicals. Among these, Elaeis guineensis, Ephedra ciliate and Terminalia avicennioides showed better burn wound healing potential with varied mechanisms such as modulation of TNF-alpha, inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide, eicosanoids, ROS and leukocyte response. Phytochemicals (oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, kirenol) also showed promising role in burn wound management though various pathways involving such as down regulation of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and inflammatory mediators including plasma proteases and arachidonic acid metabolites. This review provides a pavement for therapeutic/adjuvant use of potential botanical drugs and novel druggable phyto-compounds to target skin burn injury with diverse mechanisms, affordability and safety profile.

Anti-arthritic activity of Ricinus communis L. and Withania somnifera L. extracts in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats via modulating inflammatory mediators and subsiding oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of Ricinus communis leaves' and Withania somnifera roots' hydroalcoholic extracts in Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPLC and FT-IR analysis detected pharmacologically important phytocompounds in both plant extracts. Oral treatments including methotrexate (MTX; 3 mg/kg twice a week) and extracts at 250 and 500 mg/kg/day were initiated after arthritis induction. Changes in paw swelling, arthritic score, body weight, organ indices (thymus and spleen), hematological and biochemical parameters, and pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine expression using qRT-PCR were assessed. Oxidative stress markers in hepatic tissue were determined. Histopathological and radiological examinations were also performed. RESULTS: RCE (R. communis extract) and WSE (W. somnifera extract) demonstrated a reduction in paw swelling, arthritic score, and restoration of body weight and organ indices. Hematological parameters, serum inflammatory markers such as CRP and RF, and liver function markers of arthritic rats were significantly (P<0.01) ameliorated with RCE and WSE treatment. Both plants persuasively down-regulated IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17a, TNF-α, and RANKL and up-regulated IL-4, INF-γ, and OPG relative expression as well as alleviating hepatic oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological and radiological findings revealed a marked reduction in tissue inflammation and bone erosion in extracts treated groups. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that R. communis leaves and W. somnifera roots have markedly subsided inflammation and improved health through modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine expression and reducing oxidative stress.

Hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic activities of Caesalpinia bonduc seed kernels and Gymnema sylvestre leaves extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The objective of the current research was to validate the hepatoprotective and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of C. bonduc seed kernels (CBSK) and G. sylvestre leaves (GSL) hydro-methanolic extracts, separately and in combination (CBSKE+GSLE) in alloxan-induced diabetic rat model for 28 days. Diabetes was induced by i.p. injection of alloxan monohydrate (140 mg/kg body weight) to albino Wistar rats. Six groups of rats (n=9) were used. Group 1 was the normal control; group 2 was diabetic control. After induction of diabetes metformin (150mg/kg), CBSKE (400mg/kg), GSLE (400 mg/kg) and CBSKE+GSLE (400mg/kg) were administered to diabetic rat groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively for a period of 28 days. Diabetic rats exhibited an increase in serum blood glucose, liver function markers and lipid profile. Treatment of diabetic rats with metformin, CBSKE, GSLE and CBSKE+GSLE for 4 weeks significantly produced hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effect via amelioration of raised serum glucose, liver profile, and lipid profile. The outcomes of this study suggest that G. sylvestre leaves and C. bonduc seed kernels have hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic potential which possibly help in managing diabetes-induced liver injury and hyperlipidemia.