Search Results (8)

This review highlights the anti-hyperglycemic and antidiabetic properties of camel and dromedary milk (CM). Diabetes mellitus poses a significant global health challenge, and strategies that reduce reliance on insulin or other medications could substantially improve patient management. CM could represent a promising complementary approach due to its established antidiabetic effects, which are supported by its unique biological characteristics. Compared to other common milks, such as bovine milk, CM contains higher concentrations of insulin. Its distinctive physicochemical and microstructural properties help protect insulin and other bioactive proteins from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby enhancing their intestinal absorption. Furthermore, peptides generated during CM protein digestion may exert direct or indirect effects on the liver and pancreas, contributing to improved glucose metabolism. These beneficial actions are further supported by CM’s antioxidant and antilipidemic properties, which may help mitigate diabetes-related complications, including renal dysfunction and skin lesions. Full article

Mesona chinensis, in Thai called Chao Kuay and in Chinese Hsian-tsao, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This herbal plant grows widely in Southern China, Taiwan (China), Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The Mesona plant is used to make functional products such as drinks and soft textured sweet treats, and also traditional medicine, to treat heat stroke, high blood pressure, heart attack, high blood sugar, hepatic diseases, colon diseases, inflammatory conditions, and to alleviate myalgia. The proximate composition of M. chinensis is a mixture of protein, fat, fiber, ash, and minerals. The main biological compounds in M. chinensis extracts are polysaccharides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, with wide-ranging pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antilipidemic, carcinoma-inhibitory, renal-protective, antihypertensive, DNA damage-protective, and anti-inflammatory effects. This review investigated the proximate composition, polysaccharide type, and pharmacological properties of M. chinensis extracts. Phytochemical properties enhance the actions of the gut microbiota and improve health benefits. This review assessed the functional and medicinal activities of M. chinensis extracts. Future studies should further elucidate the in vitro/in vivo mechanisms of this plant extract and its impact on gut health. Full article

Over the years, ethnopharmacological and phytochemical investigations have been conducted to understand the potential effects of the Croton genus on several diseases. It has been revealed that these terpenoid-rich species traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, heal wounds, and relieve pain have a wide range of therapeutic effects; however, those used to treat diabetes, as well as their action mechanisms, have not been reviewed so far. Therefore, the main objective of this review was to compile all Croton species that have shown pharmacological effects against diabetes and describe their action mechanisms. Through a search of the literature, 17 species with hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic, antilipidemic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects were found. Among the mechanisms by which they exerted these effects were the inhibition of α-glucosidases, the promotion of insulin secretion, and the increase in glucose uptake. Interestingly, it was found that some of them may have antihyperglycemic properties, although there were no ethnopharmacological reports that support their traditional use. Moreover, others only presented studies on their hypoglycemic effect in fasting, so further works are encouraged to describe the mechanisms involved in lowering fasting blood glucose levels, such as hepatic glucose production, especially for C. cajucara, C. cuneatus, C. gratissimus var. gratissimus, C. guatemalensis, and C. membranaceus. It is expected that this review contributes to the plant science knowledge of the genus, and it can be used in future references on the identification and development of new molecules/phytomedicines that help in the treatment of diabetes. Full article

The açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a species belonging to the Arecaceae family, has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical Central and South America as a multipurpose dietary plant. The recent introduction of açaí fruit and its nutritional and healing qualities to regions outside its origin has rapidly expanded global demand for açaí berry. The health-promoting and disease-preventing properties of this plant are attributed to numerous bioactive phenolic compounds present in the leaf, pulp, fruit, skin, and seeds. The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of the health benefits of açaí and its phytochemicals with a special focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that açaí possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and exerts cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, renoprotective, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic activities. Moreover, clinical trials have suggested that açaí can protect against metabolic stress induced by oxidation, inflammation, vascular abnormalities, and physical exertion. Due to its medicinal properties and the absence of undesirable effects, açaí shows a promising future in health promotion and disease prevention, in addition to a vast economic potential in the food and cosmetic industries. Full article

The scientific evidence that cinnamon may exert beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus due to the biological activity of its bioactive compounds has been increasing in recent years. This review provides an overview of the effects of cinnamon on clinical parameters of diabetes and summarizes the molecular mechanisms of action of cinnamon on glucose and lipid metabolism. Search criteria include an electronic search using PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases. English literature references from 2000 up to 2022 were included. Following title and abstract review, full articles that met the inclusion criteria were included. The results from the available evidence revealed that cinnamon improved glycemic and lipidemic indicators. Clinical trials clarified that cinnamon also possesses an anti-inflammatory effect, which may act beneficially in diabetes. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies, cinnamon seems to elicit the regulation of glucose metabolism in tissues by insulin-mimetic effect and enzyme activity improvement. Furthermore, cinnamon seems to decrease cholesterol and fatty acid absorption in the gut. The current literature search showed a considerable number of studies on diabetic subjects. Some limitations in comparing published data should be highlighted, including variability in doses, extracts and species of cinnamon, administration forms, and antidiabetic therapy. Full article

The currently available anti-obesity therapies encounter many associated risks and side effects often causing the ineffectiveness of treatment. Therefore, various plant-derived substances have been extensively studied as a promising support or even an alternative for existing anti-obesity therapies. This review is dealing with the anti-obesity potential of edible and ethnomedicinal rhubarb species and emerging possible role of the rhubarb-derived extracts or individual compounds in the prevention of obesity and perspectives for their use in an anti-obesity treatment. A special emphasis is put on the most popular edible specimens, i.e., Rheum rhabarbarum L. (garden rhubarb) and Rheum rhaponticum L. (rhapontic rhubarb, Siberian rhubarb); however, the anti-obesity potential of other rhubarb species (e.g., R. officinale, R. palmatum, and R. emodi) is presented as well. The significance of rhubarb-derived extracts and low-molecular specialized rhubarb metabolites of diversified chemical background, e.g., anthraquinones and stilbenes, as potential modulators of human metabolism is highlighted, including the context of cardiovascular disease prevention. The available reports present multiple encouraging rhubarb properties starting from the anti-lipidemic action of rhubarb fibre or its use as purgative medicines, through various actions of rhubarb-derived extracts and their individual compounds: inhibition of enzymes of cholesterol and lipid metabolism, targeting of key molecular regulators of adipogenesis, regulators of cell energy metabolism, the ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory signalling pathways and to regulate glucose and lipid homeostasis contributing to overall in vivo and clinical anti-obesity effects. Full article

A series of L-serine amides of antioxidant acids, such as Trolox, (E)-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid (phenolic derivative of cinnamic acid) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (structurally similar to butylated hydroxytoluene), was synthesized. The hydroxy group of serine was esterified with two classical NSAIDs, ibuprofen and ketoprofen. The Trolox derivatives with ibuprofen (7) and ketoprofen (10) were the most potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation (IC₅₀ 3.4 μΜ and 2.8 μΜ), several times more potent than the reference Trolox (IC₅₀ 25 μΜ). Most of the compounds decreased carrageenan-induced rat paw edema (37–67% at 150 μmol/kg). They were moderate inhibitors of soybean lipoxygenase, with the exception of ibuprofen derivative 8 (IC₅₀ 13 μΜ). The most active anti-inflammatory compounds exhibited a significant decrease in lipidemic indices in the plasma of Triton-induced hyperlipidemic rats, e.g., the most active compound 9 decreased triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 52%, 61% and 70%, respectively, at 150 μmol/kg (i.p.), similar to that of simvastatin, a well-known hypocholesterolemic drug. Since the designed compounds seem to exhibit multiple pharmacological actions, they may be of use for the development of agents against inflammatory and degenerative conditions. Full article

Chlorogenic acid (5-O-caffeoylquinic acid) is a phenolic compound from the
hydroxycinnamic acid family. This polyphenol possesses many health-promoting properties, most
of them related to the treatment of metabolic syndrome, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory,
antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive activities. The first part of this review will discuss
the role of chlorogenic acid as a nutraceutical for the prevention and treatment of metabolic
syndrome and associated disorders, including in vivo studies, clinical trials, and mechanisms of
action. The second part of the review will be dealing with the role of chlorogenic acid as a food
additive. Chlorogenic acid has shown antimicrobial activity against a wide range of organisms,
including bacteria, yeasts, molds, viruses, and amoebas. These antimicrobial properties can be
useful for the food industry in its constant search for new and natural molecules for the
preservation of food products. In addition, chlorogenic acid has antioxidant activity, particularly
against lipid oxidation; protective properties against degradation of other bioactive compounds
present in food, and prebiotic activity. The combination of these properties makes chlorogenic acid
an excellent candidate for the formulation of dietary supplements and functional foods. Full article