Methanolic extract of African mistletoe(Viscum album) improves carbohydrate metabolism and hyperlipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To justify the use of African mistletoe(AM) Viscum album {V.album) in folkoric medicine to treat diabetes.Methods:In one experiment,the fasting blood glucose(FBG) leveb of diabetic rats were monitored for 4 h.Diabetic rats were treated with AM at doses of 50 mg/kg(AM1) and 100 mg/kg(AM2),glibenclamide(GB)(positive control) and saline solution(SS).In another experiment,diabetic rats were treated with AM2,GB and SS daily for 3 weeks.Results:AM1 and AM2 elicited significant(P【0.05) hypoglycaemic effects within 4 h of extract administration. AM1 and AM2 decreased the FBG by 41%and 49%,respectively,at 2 h.AM2 was found to lower FBC by 51%,relative to baseline,which was comparable to GB at 3 h.In the second experiment, AM2 and GB significantly(P【0.05) decreased the FBG by 34%and 51%,respectively.This was followed by marked decrease in levels of HbAlC in AM2- and GB- treated diabetic rats.AM2 significantly(P【0.05) decreased the STZ-induced increase in levels of serum triglyceride,urea, lactate dehydrogenase,α-amylase and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.Furthermore, diabetic rats treated with AM2 had significanlly(P【0.05) elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In contrast,STZ administration produced insignificant(P【0.05) effect on the levels of serum creatinine and total bilirubin.Conclusions:Extract of African mistletoe has anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects in STZ-diabetic rats.AM may find clinical application in the amelioration of diabetes-induced lipid disorders.

Selective Cytotoxicity and Apoptogenic Activity of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Aqueous Extract Against MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

Background: Herbal compounds are attractive anticancer candidates due to their low toxicity. Pervious studies have demonstrated that Hibiscus sabdariffa is promising as an anticancer agent against several cancer types;however, its potential therapeutic role in breast cancer remains to be investigated. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the cytotoxic effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract (HSE) on a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and fetal foreskin fibroblast (HFFF) were investigated. Different concentrations of water extract of calyces were added and the percentage of cell survival was determined after 24, 48, and 72 hours using an MTT assay. Apoptosis induction was assessed by DNA fragmentation. Results: At the concentration of 0.5 mg/ml of the extract and following 72 hours of incubation, the number of viable MCF-7 cells was less than 50%. The extract was not cytotoxic against normal HFFF cells in all tested concentrations. Also, HSE induced apoptosis only in MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that HSE inhibits the growth of MCF-7 cells selectively in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. As this herbal substance has been shown to be nontoxic at very high doses in experimental animals, it might be a good anticancer drug candidate for breast cancer treatment.