Hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities of the aqueous preparation of Kalanchoe pinnata leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities of the aqueous preparation of Kalanchoe pinnata(K.pinnata) leaves in streplozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods:Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by a single administration of streptozotocin(60 mg/Kg).Diabetic rats were then treated with aqueous K.pinnata for 30 d.Serum glucose,proteins.lipid composition,liver and kidney function indices,inflammatory markers,and key enzymes of hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were determined.Results:The untreated and treated diabetic groups lost weight and consumed less food compared to the normal group.We noted 37.9%decrease in fasting blood glucose in the treated diabetic group compared to 13.2%and 17.0%increases in normal and untreated diabetic groups respectively.Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly(P<0.05) reduced in the treated diabetic group compared to the untreated diabetic group.Blood urea nitrogen was significantly(P<0.05) elevated in the untreated and treated diabetic groups compared lo the normal group.Serum alkaline phosphatase and hepatic pyruvate kinase activities were significantly(P<0.05) elevated in the treated diabetic group.Scrum albumin level was signilieantiy(P<0.05) reduced in the untreated diabetic group.Serum IL-6 was significantly(P<0.05) depressed in the treated diabetic group.Conclusions:The observed decrease in body weight,blood glucose and cholesterol level suggests that the aqueous K.pinnata preparation consumption may be beneficial in the management of diabetes mellitus.The observed adverse effect on alkaline phosphatase activity may be due to the combined effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and K.pinnata preparation administration.

Green Tea(Camellia sinensis):Hypocholesterolemic Effects in Humans and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Animals

In its essence, tea is an infusion of Camellia sinensis leaves and it is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, aside water. Animal and epidemiological studies have associated green tea consumption with several health benefits, which include hypocholesterolemic effect and anti-in-flammatory activity. In this study catechins levels of green tea and its effect on the lipid profile of humans were evaluated as well as the protective effects against H2O2-mediated damage in human fibroblasts and anti-inflammatory activity of (–)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG). The daily consumption of 1200 mL of green tea for 30 days by 15 human volunteers promoted the decrease of cholesterol and LDL levels after 15 days, but this effect was not persistent after 30 days. No changes were observed in lipid profile after the consumption of green tea capsules. EGCG, a major green tea catechin, demonstrated an anti-inflammatory action in rats and an antioxidant effect in cultured human fibroblasts.

Hypolipidemic,antioxidant and anti-atherosclerogenic effects of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum heitzii stem bark in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats

Objective:To evaluate anti-dyslipidemic,antioxidant and anti-atherosclerogenic properties of this extract in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rat.a model of metabolic syndrome-induced atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases.Methods:Normocholeslerolemic(NC) male rats were divided into six groups(n=10) and fed a high-cholesterol(HC) diet for 30 days(5 groups),or normal rat chow(normal control group).Rats given a HC diet also received distilled water(disease control),the potent hypocholcsterolcmic agent with antiatherosclerotic activity atorvastatin(2 mg/kg,positive control),or one of the three doses of Zanthoxylum heitzii stem bark aqueous extract tested(225,300 and 375 mg/kg) concomitantly for four months.Signs of general toxicity,body temperature and weight,and water and food intake were monitored in live animals.After sacrifice,lipid profiles and oxidative stress markers were assessed in the blood and liver,aorta,and feces,and histopathological analysis of aorta was performed.Results:Plant extract prevented the elevation of aortic total cholesterol and triglycerides,and hepatic low density lipoprotein,very low density lipoprotein,and total cholesterol.Lipid peroxidation(TBARS) was decreased and aortic atherosclerotic plaque formation prevented.Conclusions:These observations strongly suggest that stem bark aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum heitzii has anti-atherosclerogenic properties,at least partly mediated by antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects.

Pu-erh tea: A review of a healthful brew

Pu-erh tea has been used for thousands of years to treat metabolic diseases.Recognized in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic,a compendium kept by the first traditional Chinese practitioners,it is still highly valued for its hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects.This review reports the processing and bioactive components of pu-erh tea.Recent human and animal studies of pu-erh tea and its potential therapeutic mechanisms have also been summarized.The interaction of liver and gut microbiome regulates the puerh tea biotransformation and endogenous metabolism,and thus contributes to the health benefits.

Bioactive metabolites from macrofungi: ethnopharmacology, biological activities and chemistry

Exploration of natural sources for novel bioactive compounds has been an emerging field of medicine over the past decades,providing drugs or lead compounds of considerable therapeutic potential.This research has provided exciting evidence on the isolation of microbe-derived metabolites having prospective biological activities.Mushrooms have been valued as traditional sources of natural bioactive compounds for many centuries and have been targeted as promising therapeutic agents.Many novel biologically active compounds have been reported as a result of research on medicinal mushrooms.In this review,we compile the information on bioactive structure-elucidated metabolites from macrofungi discovered over the last decade and highlight their unique chemical diversity and potential benefits to novel drug discovery.The main emphasis is on their anti-Alzheimer,antidiabetic,anti-malarial,anti-microbial,anti-oxidant,antitumor,anti-viral and hypocholesterolemic activities which are important medicinal targets in terms of drug discovery today.Moreover,the reader’s attention is brought to focus on mushroom products and food supplements available in the market with claimed biological activities and potential human health benefits.