Checkpoint inhibitors are designed to rejuvenate depleted or suppressed T cells in the tumor microenvironment,relying on the immune system to control and kill tumors.However,accumulating evidence indicates that tumor-...Checkpoint inhibitors are designed to rejuvenate depleted or suppressed T cells in the tumor microenvironment,relying on the immune system to control and kill tumors.However,accumulating evidence indicates that tumor-infiltrating neutrophils impede the proliferation and activation of T cells and determine the resistance to checkpoint blockade and chemotherapy.In this study,sialic acid ligand-modified colchicine derivative phospholipid complexes specifically targeted tumor-associated neutrophils in the peripheral blood,blocked neutrophil accumulation in tumors,and attenuated the inhibitory effect of infiltrating neutrophils on T cells.Neutrophil blocking therapy enhanced the immunotherapy effect of the PD-L1 antibody in S180 advanced tumors and 4T1 breast cancer.Our study found that PD-L1 antibody monotherapy increased the tumor infiltration of immunosuppressive neutrophils.Combination therapy with neutrophil blocking can greatly reduce tumor-infiltrating neutrophils and increase the proliferation of cytotoxic CD8^(+) T lymphocytes in the tumor.The combination therapy significantly improved the survival rate of mice with advanced S180 tumors and increased the sensitivity of immune checkpoint inhibitors to 4T1 cold tumors.展开更多
The properties of modified biomaterial are gaining more and more importance in drug delivery systems.Sialic acid(SA)and polysialic acid(PSA)serve as endogenous substances,which are non-immunogenic and biodegradable.At...The properties of modified biomaterial are gaining more and more importance in drug delivery systems.Sialic acid(SA)and polysialic acid(PSA)serve as endogenous substances,which are non-immunogenic and biodegradable.At the same time,SA modification of the drugs/carriers can enhance the uptake of tumor cell and retention in brain;PSA modifi-cation can reduce the immunogenicity of the proteins or polypeptides and increase circulation time of the modified drugs/carriers in the blood,thus achieving active targeting effect.These properties offer a variety of opportunities for applications in drug delivery systems.This article summarizes the biological functions of SA and PSA and presents the technologies of SA/PSA modified small molecule drugs,proteins and carriers in drug delivery systems.展开更多
Sialic acids (neuraminic acids) are a special series of 9 carbon ring negatively charged carbohydrates, which has been found to be selectively changed in malignant cells from structures (both synthesis and structure ...Sialic acids (neuraminic acids) are a special series of 9 carbon ring negatively charged carbohydrates, which has been found to be selectively changed in malignant cells from structures (both synthesis and structure modifications) to functions (up and down regulation in cells). Sialic acids, in single forms or conjugates, have been systematically studied both in lab and in clinics by GC, GC MS, NMR, HPTLC, HPLC and other modern analytical means. Sialic acids and related conjugates are predicted to be used in cancer diagnosis, cancer prognostic forecasting, designing of cancer chemotherapy regimens, uncovering carcinogenetic processes and neoplasm metastasis. Tumor cell regulative systems and pathways are correlated with sialic acids, which can be applied to prognostic evaluation of cancer patients, and antimetastatic chemotherapy by sialic acid derivatives and analogues. Searching for new biological characteristics of sialic acids in cells have also been extensively studied these days. In this paper, main stream discoveries and advancements are provided , also discussions of possible mechanisms and hypotheses are invoked.展开更多
Background: Sialic acids are a family of ninecarbon sugar compounds with carboxylic acyl derivatives. It exists in bacteria, fish, mammals and other living organisms, participates in and regulates many important life ...Background: Sialic acids are a family of ninecarbon sugar compounds with carboxylic acyl derivatives. It exists in bacteria, fish, mammals and other living organisms, participates in and regulates many important life events, such as cell recognition, membrane flow, endocytosis and so on. Sialic acid is usually located in the outermost layer of the sugar part of the cell membrane and the key positions of secreted glycoconjugates (glycolipids, glycoprotein and lipopolysaccharide). Sialic acid (Sia) is an important material foundation for variety of the structure and founction of glycoconjugates. Sia has been known as nearly 50 members, including N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), N-glycoulylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and deaminoneuraminic acid (KDN) as its core monomer. The rest of the sialic acids are derived from these three monomers. The contents of Sia in Chinese food products are unknown. Objective: To determine the contents of Sia in raw and cooked red meat, seafood, poultry and so on. Design: The following food products were purchased from a Chinese supermarket: pork, beef, lamb, salmon, cod, tuna, cow milk, cheese, butter, duck, chicken and chicken eggs. Human milk was collected from Xiamen Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital (Xiamen, China). All tissues were homogenized and hydrolyzed with 0.05 M, 0.1 M and 0.2 M TFA for 150 min at 80°C in dark, respectively. The concentrations of Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc and KDN were determined by using HPLC with fluorescence detector. Results: The contents of total Sia (μg/g tissue or μg/mL liquid sample) in Chinese raw meat were highest in lamb (269.60), followed by pork (254.88), duck (200.63), chicken (162.86) and beef (88.03). The percentages of Neu5Gc were 36.08%, 26.48%, 0%, 0% and 28.40%, respectively. Cod contained higher levels of Sia (171.63) than salmon (104.43) and tuna (77.98). Only Neu5Ac was 50 found in detected aquatic product. Egg yolk contained the highest level of Sia (682.04), and a higher level of Sia (390.67) was found in the egg white. Also our result showed that human milk contained extremely high level of Sia (602.55). Neu5Ac was the predominant form of Sia in all the deteced samples. KDN was found in cow milk only among the samples, the content was 1.14 μg/g. Conclusion: The highest content of Sia in examined Chinese foods was found in 56 eggs, followed by lamb, pork, duck, cod, chicken, salmon, beef and tuna. Knowledge of the Sia content in conventional foods may help us to better understand possible medical disorders involving the uptake of the “non-human” Neu5Gc from our diet.展开更多
Objective To investigate the apoptosis of epididyrnis epithelium and the change of epididymissialic acid following torsed/detorsed testes. Methods Twenty four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilatera...Objective To investigate the apoptosis of epididyrnis epithelium and the change of epididymissialic acid following torsed/detorsed testes. Methods Twenty four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral 720 testicular torsion with the duration of 2h and 4h, then repaired. The ischemic epididymis were collected for detecting the content of sialic acid by using spectrophotometry and the apoptosis with TUNEL technique. Results There were no statistically significant difference in the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium [(9.51± 2.78)% vs (6.34±1. 98)%] and the content of epididymis sialic acid(23, 3851 ± 9. 2199mg/mgprot vs 19. 3661 6. 3373mg/mgprot) at 24h between following 2h-torsed/detorsed testes and those of sham group. There were statistically significant difference in the apopotosis of epididymis epithelium[ (46. 81 ±3. 55)% vs (6. 34±1. 98) % ] and the content of epididymis sialic acid (13. 7249±7. 8006mg/mgprot vs 19. 3661±6. 3373mg/mgprot) at 24h between following 4h-torsed/detorsed testes and those of sham group(P <0. 05). Conclusion The results suggest that the sialic acid-secreting-function of epididymis remain normal at 24h following 2h-torsed/detorsed testes, while the apoptosis index of epididymis epithelium do not increase. The epididymis would be injured at 24h following 4h-torsed/detorsed testes, while the apoptosis index increased.展开更多
Lactoferrin(Lf-α)is a major constithent of the secondary granules of neutrophils, and is thought to be involved in bacteriostasis through high affinity binding of plasma Fe required for microbial growth.Lf-αis also ...Lactoferrin(Lf-α)is a major constithent of the secondary granules of neutrophils, and is thought to be involved in bacteriostasis through high affinity binding of plasma Fe required for microbial growth.Lf-αis also the major Fe binding protein in milk. Fe bound to Lf-αis available for metabolic use.but the mechanism of Fe release from Lf-αis unknown.Treatment of human Lf-α with neuraminidase to remove sialic acid residues reduced its ability to bind Fe and caused release of Fe already bound to the protein. Reduction in Fe binding capacity was dependent on time of exposure to and concentration of neuraminidase,and was due to Lf-αloss or degradation. Readdition of sialic arid to desialylated Lf -a using a-2, 6-sialyltransferase restored Fe binding.The results suggest that sialylationdesialylation reactions could play a role in physiologic binding and release of Fe from the very high affinity binding sites of Lf -α.展开更多
Serum lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) assay was evaluated for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary disease.Mean serum LSA for normal controls was 13.7±3.7 mg/dl and the upper limit of the ...Serum lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) assay was evaluated for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary disease.Mean serum LSA for normal controls was 13.7±3.7 mg/dl and the upper limit of the normal value was set at 19.8 mg/dl (95% confidence limit,one side).The specificity was 97.l% (95% confidence interval was 93.8%, 100.0%).The mean for benign pulmonary disease was 1 7.l±5.l mg/dl,the specificity was 89.l% (95% confidence interval was 80.9%,97.3%), and the sensitivity was 10.9%.The mean for malignant pulmonary disease was 27.l±7.9 mg/dl, and the sensitivity was 93.3%(95% confidence interval was 88.5%, 98.1%).The serum LSA levels for different malignant pulmonary diseases were different between small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The results indicate that serum LSA assay might be used as tumor marker to differentiate lung cancer from normal subjects or benign lung disease.展开更多
Meningitis is often associated with cerebral compromise which may be responsible for neurological squeal in nearly half of the survivors. Little is known about the mechanisms of Central Nervous System (CNS) involvem...Meningitis is often associated with cerebral compromise which may be responsible for neurological squeal in nearly half of the survivors. Little is known about the mechanisms of Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement in bacterial meningitis. The present study was undertaken to assess the changes in biochemical parameters including glucose, protein, Sialic Acid (SA) and various enzymes like Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Creatine Kinase (CK), Gamma Glutamyltranspeptidase 7 (GGTP) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) have been determined in the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) of the meningitis patients (n = 26) and compared with control subjects (n = 26). Total Protein, CK, SA (P 〈 0.02), AST (P 〈 0.001) and ALT (P 〈 0.0001) of meningitis patients were significantly higher, whereas, glucose (P 〈 0.05) and Gamma Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) (P 〈 0.01 and P 〈 0.05, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls. This study suggests that loss of integrity of brain-CSF barriers, sialic acid and enzyme profiles may contribute to the severity and neurological complications of meningitis.展开更多
The purpose of this work is to perform a detailed study of carbohydrate specificity of the new extracellular bacilli lectins which is considered to determine mechanisms of the lectins action. Sources of lectins were b...The purpose of this work is to perform a detailed study of carbohydrate specificity of the new extracellular bacilli lectins which is considered to determine mechanisms of the lectins action. Sources of lectins were bacterial strains from Ukrainian collection of microorganisms. The optimized protocol of bacilli lectins isolation and purification included precipitation with ammonium sulfate with subsequent gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. Hemagglutinating activity of bacilli lectins and their fine carbohydrate specificity to sialic acids and their derivatives as well as sialic asid-containing and asialic glycoconjugates were studied. The ability of extracellular bacilli lectins to discriminate a- and 13-conformation of carbohydrate molecule and the type of connection between the monomers was determined. Studied lectins showed the most affinity to glycoconjugates containing both types of sialic acids (N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc)) and it is supposed to be a basis of their diagnostic and analytical potential.展开更多
More than 1000 herbal products have been used by diverse cultures of the world to treat hyperglycemia and among them bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is one of the most popular herbal resource. The beneficial effect...More than 1000 herbal products have been used by diverse cultures of the world to treat hyperglycemia and among them bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is one of the most popular herbal resource. The beneficial effects of bitter melon is not limited to hypoglycaemia only, but it also ameliorates diet induced obesity, insulin resistance and exhibit cardioprotective effects. The present study attempts to investigate the effect of bitter melon fruit juice on a newly investigated risk factor, sialic acid in type2 diabetics. A total of 40 type2 diabetic patients, divided into group A (n = 20) and group B (n = 20) were investigated during the present study. The patients of group A were following bitter melon fruit juice treatment along with diet control, whereas the patients of group B were on diet control only. Serum sialic acid (SSA) decreased in group A from 66.20 ± 2.30 mg/dl to 63.50 ± 2.10 mg/dl (<0.11) but, increased in group B from 66.50 ± 1.70 mg/dl to 68.20 ± 2.50 mg/dl (<0.12), compared to baseline. Post-treatment between group comparison revealed a significant difference (<0.05). The beneficial effects on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycohemoglobin (HbA1-c) were also greater in group A compared to group B as was the case with blood lipids, weight and blood pressure. The study provides another mechanism for the cardioprotective effect of bitter melon and further strengthens its value in the management of type2 diabetes.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number:81973271].
文摘Checkpoint inhibitors are designed to rejuvenate depleted or suppressed T cells in the tumor microenvironment,relying on the immune system to control and kill tumors.However,accumulating evidence indicates that tumor-infiltrating neutrophils impede the proliferation and activation of T cells and determine the resistance to checkpoint blockade and chemotherapy.In this study,sialic acid ligand-modified colchicine derivative phospholipid complexes specifically targeted tumor-associated neutrophils in the peripheral blood,blocked neutrophil accumulation in tumors,and attenuated the inhibitory effect of infiltrating neutrophils on T cells.Neutrophil blocking therapy enhanced the immunotherapy effect of the PD-L1 antibody in S180 advanced tumors and 4T1 breast cancer.Our study found that PD-L1 antibody monotherapy increased the tumor infiltration of immunosuppressive neutrophils.Combination therapy with neutrophil blocking can greatly reduce tumor-infiltrating neutrophils and increase the proliferation of cytotoxic CD8^(+) T lymphocytes in the tumor.The combination therapy significantly improved the survival rate of mice with advanced S180 tumors and increased the sensitivity of immune checkpoint inhibitors to 4T1 cold tumors.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81373334).
文摘The properties of modified biomaterial are gaining more and more importance in drug delivery systems.Sialic acid(SA)and polysialic acid(PSA)serve as endogenous substances,which are non-immunogenic and biodegradable.At the same time,SA modification of the drugs/carriers can enhance the uptake of tumor cell and retention in brain;PSA modifi-cation can reduce the immunogenicity of the proteins or polypeptides and increase circulation time of the modified drugs/carriers in the blood,thus achieving active targeting effect.These properties offer a variety of opportunities for applications in drug delivery systems.This article summarizes the biological functions of SA and PSA and presents the technologies of SA/PSA modified small molecule drugs,proteins and carriers in drug delivery systems.
文摘Sialic acids (neuraminic acids) are a special series of 9 carbon ring negatively charged carbohydrates, which has been found to be selectively changed in malignant cells from structures (both synthesis and structure modifications) to functions (up and down regulation in cells). Sialic acids, in single forms or conjugates, have been systematically studied both in lab and in clinics by GC, GC MS, NMR, HPTLC, HPLC and other modern analytical means. Sialic acids and related conjugates are predicted to be used in cancer diagnosis, cancer prognostic forecasting, designing of cancer chemotherapy regimens, uncovering carcinogenetic processes and neoplasm metastasis. Tumor cell regulative systems and pathways are correlated with sialic acids, which can be applied to prognostic evaluation of cancer patients, and antimetastatic chemotherapy by sialic acid derivatives and analogues. Searching for new biological characteristics of sialic acids in cells have also been extensively studied these days. In this paper, main stream discoveries and advancements are provided , also discussions of possible mechanisms and hypotheses are invoked.
文摘Background: Sialic acids are a family of ninecarbon sugar compounds with carboxylic acyl derivatives. It exists in bacteria, fish, mammals and other living organisms, participates in and regulates many important life events, such as cell recognition, membrane flow, endocytosis and so on. Sialic acid is usually located in the outermost layer of the sugar part of the cell membrane and the key positions of secreted glycoconjugates (glycolipids, glycoprotein and lipopolysaccharide). Sialic acid (Sia) is an important material foundation for variety of the structure and founction of glycoconjugates. Sia has been known as nearly 50 members, including N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), N-glycoulylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and deaminoneuraminic acid (KDN) as its core monomer. The rest of the sialic acids are derived from these three monomers. The contents of Sia in Chinese food products are unknown. Objective: To determine the contents of Sia in raw and cooked red meat, seafood, poultry and so on. Design: The following food products were purchased from a Chinese supermarket: pork, beef, lamb, salmon, cod, tuna, cow milk, cheese, butter, duck, chicken and chicken eggs. Human milk was collected from Xiamen Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital (Xiamen, China). All tissues were homogenized and hydrolyzed with 0.05 M, 0.1 M and 0.2 M TFA for 150 min at 80°C in dark, respectively. The concentrations of Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc and KDN were determined by using HPLC with fluorescence detector. Results: The contents of total Sia (μg/g tissue or μg/mL liquid sample) in Chinese raw meat were highest in lamb (269.60), followed by pork (254.88), duck (200.63), chicken (162.86) and beef (88.03). The percentages of Neu5Gc were 36.08%, 26.48%, 0%, 0% and 28.40%, respectively. Cod contained higher levels of Sia (171.63) than salmon (104.43) and tuna (77.98). Only Neu5Ac was 50 found in detected aquatic product. Egg yolk contained the highest level of Sia (682.04), and a higher level of Sia (390.67) was found in the egg white. Also our result showed that human milk contained extremely high level of Sia (602.55). Neu5Ac was the predominant form of Sia in all the deteced samples. KDN was found in cow milk only among the samples, the content was 1.14 μg/g. Conclusion: The highest content of Sia in examined Chinese foods was found in 56 eggs, followed by lamb, pork, duck, cod, chicken, salmon, beef and tuna. Knowledge of the Sia content in conventional foods may help us to better understand possible medical disorders involving the uptake of the “non-human” Neu5Gc from our diet.
文摘Objective To investigate the apoptosis of epididyrnis epithelium and the change of epididymissialic acid following torsed/detorsed testes. Methods Twenty four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral 720 testicular torsion with the duration of 2h and 4h, then repaired. The ischemic epididymis were collected for detecting the content of sialic acid by using spectrophotometry and the apoptosis with TUNEL technique. Results There were no statistically significant difference in the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium [(9.51± 2.78)% vs (6.34±1. 98)%] and the content of epididymis sialic acid(23, 3851 ± 9. 2199mg/mgprot vs 19. 3661 6. 3373mg/mgprot) at 24h between following 2h-torsed/detorsed testes and those of sham group. There were statistically significant difference in the apopotosis of epididymis epithelium[ (46. 81 ±3. 55)% vs (6. 34±1. 98) % ] and the content of epididymis sialic acid (13. 7249±7. 8006mg/mgprot vs 19. 3661±6. 3373mg/mgprot) at 24h between following 4h-torsed/detorsed testes and those of sham group(P <0. 05). Conclusion The results suggest that the sialic acid-secreting-function of epididymis remain normal at 24h following 2h-torsed/detorsed testes, while the apoptosis index of epididymis epithelium do not increase. The epididymis would be injured at 24h following 4h-torsed/detorsed testes, while the apoptosis index increased.
文摘Lactoferrin(Lf-α)is a major constithent of the secondary granules of neutrophils, and is thought to be involved in bacteriostasis through high affinity binding of plasma Fe required for microbial growth.Lf-αis also the major Fe binding protein in milk. Fe bound to Lf-αis available for metabolic use.but the mechanism of Fe release from Lf-αis unknown.Treatment of human Lf-α with neuraminidase to remove sialic acid residues reduced its ability to bind Fe and caused release of Fe already bound to the protein. Reduction in Fe binding capacity was dependent on time of exposure to and concentration of neuraminidase,and was due to Lf-αloss or degradation. Readdition of sialic arid to desialylated Lf -a using a-2, 6-sialyltransferase restored Fe binding.The results suggest that sialylationdesialylation reactions could play a role in physiologic binding and release of Fe from the very high affinity binding sites of Lf -α.
文摘Serum lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) assay was evaluated for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary disease.Mean serum LSA for normal controls was 13.7±3.7 mg/dl and the upper limit of the normal value was set at 19.8 mg/dl (95% confidence limit,one side).The specificity was 97.l% (95% confidence interval was 93.8%, 100.0%).The mean for benign pulmonary disease was 1 7.l±5.l mg/dl,the specificity was 89.l% (95% confidence interval was 80.9%,97.3%), and the sensitivity was 10.9%.The mean for malignant pulmonary disease was 27.l±7.9 mg/dl, and the sensitivity was 93.3%(95% confidence interval was 88.5%, 98.1%).The serum LSA levels for different malignant pulmonary diseases were different between small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The results indicate that serum LSA assay might be used as tumor marker to differentiate lung cancer from normal subjects or benign lung disease.
文摘Meningitis is often associated with cerebral compromise which may be responsible for neurological squeal in nearly half of the survivors. Little is known about the mechanisms of Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement in bacterial meningitis. The present study was undertaken to assess the changes in biochemical parameters including glucose, protein, Sialic Acid (SA) and various enzymes like Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Creatine Kinase (CK), Gamma Glutamyltranspeptidase 7 (GGTP) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) have been determined in the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) of the meningitis patients (n = 26) and compared with control subjects (n = 26). Total Protein, CK, SA (P 〈 0.02), AST (P 〈 0.001) and ALT (P 〈 0.0001) of meningitis patients were significantly higher, whereas, glucose (P 〈 0.05) and Gamma Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) (P 〈 0.01 and P 〈 0.05, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls. This study suggests that loss of integrity of brain-CSF barriers, sialic acid and enzyme profiles may contribute to the severity and neurological complications of meningitis.
文摘The purpose of this work is to perform a detailed study of carbohydrate specificity of the new extracellular bacilli lectins which is considered to determine mechanisms of the lectins action. Sources of lectins were bacterial strains from Ukrainian collection of microorganisms. The optimized protocol of bacilli lectins isolation and purification included precipitation with ammonium sulfate with subsequent gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. Hemagglutinating activity of bacilli lectins and their fine carbohydrate specificity to sialic acids and their derivatives as well as sialic asid-containing and asialic glycoconjugates were studied. The ability of extracellular bacilli lectins to discriminate a- and 13-conformation of carbohydrate molecule and the type of connection between the monomers was determined. Studied lectins showed the most affinity to glycoconjugates containing both types of sialic acids (N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc)) and it is supposed to be a basis of their diagnostic and analytical potential.
文摘More than 1000 herbal products have been used by diverse cultures of the world to treat hyperglycemia and among them bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is one of the most popular herbal resource. The beneficial effects of bitter melon is not limited to hypoglycaemia only, but it also ameliorates diet induced obesity, insulin resistance and exhibit cardioprotective effects. The present study attempts to investigate the effect of bitter melon fruit juice on a newly investigated risk factor, sialic acid in type2 diabetics. A total of 40 type2 diabetic patients, divided into group A (n = 20) and group B (n = 20) were investigated during the present study. The patients of group A were following bitter melon fruit juice treatment along with diet control, whereas the patients of group B were on diet control only. Serum sialic acid (SSA) decreased in group A from 66.20 ± 2.30 mg/dl to 63.50 ± 2.10 mg/dl (<0.11) but, increased in group B from 66.50 ± 1.70 mg/dl to 68.20 ± 2.50 mg/dl (<0.12), compared to baseline. Post-treatment between group comparison revealed a significant difference (<0.05). The beneficial effects on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycohemoglobin (HbA1-c) were also greater in group A compared to group B as was the case with blood lipids, weight and blood pressure. The study provides another mechanism for the cardioprotective effect of bitter melon and further strengthens its value in the management of type2 diabetes.