Role of medicinal plants in the management of diabetes mellitus: a review.

Medicinal plants have a vast potential in the treatment of various ailments due to the presence of therapeutically important phytochemicals. Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder and several marketed medications are available to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes. However, these over the counter drugs are expensive and associated with several complications. Herbal medicines are gaining importance as they are cost-effective and also display improved therapeutic effects with lesser side effects. The present review includes the reports available on medicinal plants used for treating diabetes complications. The aim of the review is to categorize and summarize the available information on medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties and suggesting outlooks for future research. A systematic search was performed on medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties using several search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct and other online journals and books. All the plants listed in this review are native to Asian countries and are routinely used by the traditional practitioners for the treatment of various ailments. Based on the literature data available, a total of 81 medicinal plants with anti-diabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, hypoglycemic, anti-lipidemic and insulin mimetic properties have been compiled in this review. This review provides useful information about the different medicinal plants for treating diabetes-associated complications. Further research can be carried out to study the active constituents and mechanism of these plants.

Cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death induced by Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts in A431 skin cancer cells.

Vitis vinifera. L is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world and are rich in antioxidant abundant polyphenols. The present study was carried out to assess the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts in an in vitro model using human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell lines. Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts were incubated with A431 cells to evaluate the antiproliferative, apoptotic effects and the morphological apoptotic changes induced by the extracts. Mitochondrial membrane potential was also measured after incubating the cells with extracts. At the inhibitory concentration (IC50), grape seed extract (111.11 µg/mL) and grape peel extract (319.14 µg/mL) were incubated for 24 h with A431 cells. Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts were able to impart cytotoxic effects, induced apoptosis and apoptotic morphological changes in A431 cells significantly (p < 0.01) and this effect is associated with the interference with mitochondrial membrane potential. This reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential probably initiated the apoptotic cascade in the extracts treated cells. Vitis vinifera peel and seed phytochemicals can selectively target cancer cells and the phytochemicals that are occluded can serve as potential anticancer agents providing better efficacy in killing cancer cells.

Vitis vinifera peel and seed gold nanoparticles exhibit chemopreventive potential, antioxidant activity and induce apoptosis through mutant p53, Bcl-2 and pan cytokeratin down-regulation in experimental animals.

Several studies suggest surface modifications of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by capping agents or surface coatings could play an important role in biological systems, and site directed delivery. The present study was carried out to assess the antioxidant and apoptotic activities of the Vitis vinifera peel and seed gold nanoparticles in experimentally induced cancer in Swiss albino mice. 12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) (single application) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) (thrice a week) were applied on the dorsal area of the skin to induce skin papillomagenesis in Swiss albino mice for 16 weeks. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized using Vitis vinifera peel and seed aqueous extracts and characterized by Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses. On topical application, peel and seed gold nanoparticles demonstrated chemopreventive potential by significantly (p<0.05) reducing the cumulative number of tumors while increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities in the gold nanoparticles treated mice. The down-regulated expression of mutant p53, Bcl-2 and the levels of pan-cytokeratins might have facilitated the process of apoptosis in the chemical carcinogenesis process. The results were supported by the histopathological evaluation which exhibited mild dysplasia and acanthosis in the skin tissues of Vitis vinifera peel and seed AuNPs treated mice. Based on the present study, the chemopreventive action of Vitis vinifera peel and seed AuNPs is probably due to its ability to stimulate the antioxidant enzymes within the cells and suppressed abnormal skin cell proliferation that occurred during DMBA-induced skin papillomagenesis.

3,4 Dihydroxycinnamic acid stimulates immune system function by modifying the humoral antibody response - An in vivo study.

The immunomodulatory property of 3,4-Dihydroxy-cinnamic acid (DCA) was studied under the normal and cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppressive conditions in animal models. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated by studying the haematological parameters, humoral antibody, based on the plaque forming cell count, the bone marrow cellularity, the α-esterase's producing active cells, delayed type hypersensitive assay, phagocytic index assays. The chemopreventive effect of DCA was determined by cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression in animals. From the response, DCA exhibits significant immunomodulatory activity by enhancing the humoral immune response. The histopathological investigation revealed the protective effect of DCA against cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression. From the result it is observed that the DCA boosts up the immune system activity in a positive manner.

Synthesis and Characterization of Sygyzium cumini Nanoparticles for Its Protective Potential in High Glucose-Induced Cardiac Stress: a Green Approach.

There exists a complex and multifactorial relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Hyperglycemia is an important factor imposing damage (glucose toxicity) on cardiac cell leading to diabetic cardiomyopathy. There are substantial clinical evidences on the adverse effects of conventional therapies in the prevention/treatment of diabetic cardiovascular complications. Currently, green-synthesized nanoparticles have emerged as a safe, efficient, and inexpensive alternative for therapeutic uses. The present study discloses the silver nanoparticle biosynthesizing capability and cardioprotective potential of Syzygium cumini seeds already reported to have antidiabetic properties. Newly generated silver nanoparticles S. cumini MSE silver nanoparticles (SmSNPs) were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta sizer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Using methanolic extract of S. cumini seeds, an average size of 40-100-nm nanoparticles with 43.02 nm and -19.6 mV zeta potential were synthesized. The crystalline nature of SmSNPs was identified by using XRD. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays revealed the antioxidative potential to be 66.87 (±0.7) % and 86.07 (±0.92) % compared to 60.29 (±0.02) % and 85.67 (±1.27) % for S. cumini MSE. In vitro study on glucose-stressed H9C2 cardiac cells showed restoration in cell size, nuclear morphology, and lipid peroxide formation upon treatment of SmSNPs. Our findings concluded that S. cumini MSE SmSNPs significantly suppress the glucose-induced cardiac stress in vitro by maintaining the cellular integrity and reducing the oxidative damages therefore establishing its therapeutic potential in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

The Advances in Neurobiology.

Neurological disorders are diseases of the brain, the spine, and the nerves that connect them. There are more than 600 diseases of the nervous system, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and stroke as well as less familiar ones such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias; cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine, and other headache disorders; multiple sclerosis; neuroinfections; brain tumors; traumatic disorders of the nervous system such as brain trauma; and neurological disorders as a result of malnutrition. More than a decade of research worldwide has shown that berries support cognitive health by protecting nerves and help brain cells communicate with each other and improve the flexibility of nerve structures. Berries help nerves tolerate stress, including the stress of toxic exposure. They also support the healthy function of glial cells in the brain, essential for optimum brain function. Polyphenols, namely, anthocyanins, found in berries may slow cognitive decline through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in experimental animals. Based on the previous reports, this review explains the beneficial effects of the phytochemicals present in nine varieties of berries on neurodegenerative diseases.

Oxidative stress and skin cancer: an overview.

Skin is the largest body organ that serves as an important environmental interface providing a protective envelope that is crucial for homeostasis. On the other hand, it is a major target for toxic insult by a broad spectrum of physical and chemical agents that are capable of altering its structure and function. There are a large number of dietary contaminants and drugs can manifest their toxicity in skin. These environmental toxicants or their metabolites are inherent oxidants and/or directly or indirectly drive the production of a variety of reactive oxidants also known as reactive oxygen species. These are short-lived entities that are continuously generated at low levels during the course of normal aerobic metabolism. These are believed to activate proliferative and cell survival signaling that can alter apoptotic pathways that may be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of skin disorders. The skin possesses an array of antioxidant defense mechanisms that interact with toxicants to obviate their deleterious effect. The "antioxidant power" of a food is an expression of its capability both to defend the human organism from the action of the free radicals and to prevent degenerative disorders. Plants like olive trees have their own built-in protection against the oxidative damage of the sun, and these built-in protectors function as cell protectors in our own body. Although many antioxidants have shown substantive efficacy in cell culture systems and in animal models of oxidant injury, unequivocal confirmation of their beneficial effects in human populations has proven elusive.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Sida rhombifolia stems and roots in adjuvant induced arthritic rats.

Free radical stress leads to tissue injury and progression of disease conditions such as arthritis, hemorrhagic shock, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hepatic injury, aging and ischemia, reperfusion injury of many tissues, gastritis, tumor promotion, neurodegenerative diseases and carcinogenesis. Safer anti-oxidants suitable for long term use are needed to prevent or stop the progression of free radical mediated disorders. Herbal medicine provides a foundation for various traditional medicine systems worldwide. The Sida species is one of the most important families of medicinal plants in India. Hence, the present study was aimed to investigate the possible anti-oxidant potential of Sida rhombifolia extracts for 30 days on adjuvant induced arthritis in experimental rats. The altered levels of hematological parameters were reverted to near normal levels, especially the elevated rate of erythrocyte sedimentation was significantly reduced by S. rhombifolia extracts in experimental rats. Oral administration of root and stem of S. rhombifolia extracts significantly increased the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase and decreased the levels of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity in arthritis induced rats. The free radical scavenging activity of the plant was further evidenced by histological and transmission electron microscopy observations made on the hind limb tissue.

Detection and genotyping of high-risk HPV and evaluation of anti-oxidant status in cervical carcinoma patients in Tamil Nadu State, India--a case control study.

Cervical cancer is the second common type of cancer among women worldwide, with the human papillomavirus (HPV) recognized as the major causative agent. The HPV 16/18 prevalance in cervical cancer patients from the Trichy and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu state, India, was evaluated in addition to an assessment of oxidative stress and antioxidant status. MDA, GSH, GPx, GST, SOD, vitamin C and vitamin E were estimated in the plasma and erythrocytes of the twenty patients and an equal number of age matched normal subjects as controls. 119 paraffin embedded tissue samples were collected to perform DNA extraction and genotyping of HPV 16/18 using specific primers. Plasma and erythrocyte TBARS level was significantly elevated in the cervical cancer patients compared to normal. It was observed that SOD, GPx, GSH levels in the erythrocyte and plasma was significantly lower in cervical cancer patients, as well as GST and Vitamins E and C levels in the plasma and catalase enzyme levels in the erythrocytes. Genotyping showed 57% positive for HPV16 and 18% for HPV18, indicating that vaccination against these two will effectively reduce the burden associated with the disease. These findings suggest possible use of antioxidant supplementation as prophylactic agents for prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

Anti-inflammatory and lysosomal stability actions of Cleome gynandra L. studied in adjuvant induced arthritic rats.

The present study was aimed to assess the anti-arthritic nature of Cleome gynandra L. (Cat's whiskers) against Freund's complete adjuvant induced arthritis in rats. The ethanolic extract of C. gynandra was administered orally at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight for 30 days to the experimental rats after the induction of adjuvant arthritis. The anti-inflammatory activity of C. gynandra leaves was assessed by paw volume measurement, and its capacity to stabilize lysosomal enzyme activities in the plasma and liver of control and experimental rats. The activity of pathophysiological enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP, cathepsin-D, beta-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase LDH and the levels of glycoproteins were also estimated in plasma and liver. The increased levels of both lysosomal enzymes and protein-bound carbohydrates in arthritic rats were significantly suppressed to near normal level by the administration of C. gynandra extract. Further, the significantly elevated plasma levels of TNF-alpha found in arthritic rats were found to be significantly restored back to near normal levels by the extract in experimental animals. The membrane stabilizing activity of the extract was further evidenced by histological observations made on the limb tissue. Recently, we have reported the presence of many biologically active phyto chemicals such as triterpenes, tannins, anthroquinones, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, resins, lectins, glycosides, sugars, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids in the extract of C. gynandra and these compounds might be responsible for the anti-arthritic properties observed in the present study. The possible mechanism of action of the C. gynandra extract may be through its stabilizing action on lysosomal membranes and there by preventing the spread of inflammation.

Biochemical evaluation of antidiabetogenic properties of some commonly used Indian plants on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in experimental rats.

1. Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disorder with micro- and macrovascular complications that results in significant morbidity and mortality. 2. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypoglycaemic efficacy of commonly used traditional Indian plants, such as Murraya koenigii, Mentha piperitae, Ocimum sanctum and Aegle marmelos, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental rats. 3. Oral administration of the ethanolic extract of these plants resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and urea, with a concomitant increase in glycogen, haemoglobin and protein, in diabetic rats. Treatment with these plant extracts also resulted in an increase in insulin and C-peptide levels and glucose tolerance. 4. The decreased activities of carbohydrate-metabolising enzymes, such as hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycogen synthase, in diabetic rats were significantly elevated towards near normal in rats treated with extracts of M. koenigii, O. sanctum and A. marmelos; the increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase and glycogen phosphorylase in STZ diabetic rats were significantly reduced following treatment with the plant extracts. 5. Elevated specific binding of [(125)I]-labelled insulin to the receptor found in diabetic rats was markedly decreased in extract-treated groups. However, treatment of diabetic rats with M. piperitae did not result in any significant modification in all parameters. 6. Phytochemical screening conducted by us revealed the presence of biologically active ingredients in the ethanolic extracts of M. koenigii, O. sanctum and A. marmelos, which may readily account for the observed hypoglycaemic activity.

Free radical scavenging activity of Cleome gynandra L. leaves on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats.

The generation of free radicals has been implicated in the causation of several diseases of known and unknown etiologies such as, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, cancer, etc., and compounds that can scavenge free radicals have great potential in ameliorating these disease processes. The present study was aimed to investigate the possible anti-oxidant potential of Cleome gynandra leaf extract at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight for 30 days on adjuvant induced arthritis in experimental rats. Oral administration of C. gynandra leaf extract significantly increased the levels of lipid peroxides and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and decreased the levels of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity in arthritis induced rats. The free radical scavenging activity of the plant was further evidenced by histological observations made on the limb tissue. The presence of biologically active ingredients and vital trace elements in the leaves readily account for free radical scavenging property of C. gynandra.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Cleome gynandra L. on hematological and cellular constituents in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats.

Cleome gynandra L. (cat whiskers) has traditionally been used for the treatment of rheumatic and other inflammatory conditions. In this work, the methanolic extract of the leaves of C. gynandra exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Phytochemical screening was carried out to ascertain the qualitative composition of the leaves. Arthritis was induced by Freund's complete adjuvant. A significant decrease in paw edema with a remarkable increase in body weight was observed following oral administration of the leaf extract (150 mg/kg of body weight). The alterations in hematological and other biochemical parameters were restored to near normal after a treatment period of 30 days. These results demonstrate that the plant extract has no harmful effect and exerts in vivo anti-inflammatory properties against adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Mineral content of some medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

It is known that certain inorganic trace elements such as vanadium, zinc, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, sodium, and nickel play an important role in the maintenance of normoglycemia by activating the beta-cells of the pancreas. In the present study, the elemental composition in the leaves of four traditional medicinal plants (Murraya koenigii, Mentha piperitae, Ocimum sanctum, and Aegle marmelos) widely used in the treatment of diabetes-related metabolic disorders has been studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The levels of Cu, Ni, Zn, K, and Na were found to be in trace amounts, whereas Fe, Cr, and V levels were found in marginal levels. The importance of these elements in disorders related to diabetes is also briefly discussed.