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Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) which is due to the destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It is associated with oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The plant alkaloid Palmatine has been previously reported to possess antidiabetic and antioxidant properties as well as other protective properties against kidney and liver tissue damage. Objective: Here, we investigated the ability of Palmatine to reduce the up-regulation of chaperone proteins Glucose Regulatory Protein 78 (GRP78), and Calreticulin (CALR) protein in a Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in Sprague Dawley rats treated with 2mg/kg of Palmatine for 12 weeks after the elevation of plasma glucose levels above 11mmol/L post-STZ administration. Proteins were extracted from the pancreas after treatment and Two-Dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), PDQuest 2-D analysis software genomic solutions and mass spectrometer were used to analyze differentially expressed protein. Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS), Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT) was used for protein identification. Results: There was an up-regulation of the expression of chaperone proteins CALR and GRP78 and down-regulation of the expression of antioxidant and protection proteins peroxidoxin 4 (Prdx4), protein disulfide isomerase (PDIA2/3), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GSTs), and Serum Albumin (ALB) in non-diabetic rats. Palmatine treatment down-regulated the expression of chaperone proteins CALR and GRP78 and up-regulated the expression of Prdx4, PDIA2/3, GST, and ALB. Conclusion: Palmatine may have activated antioxidant proteins, which protected the cells against reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic stress. The result is in consonance with our previous report on Palmatine.

Purpose Triple therapy is the standard therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection. Chronic use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a component of triple therapy, is associated with osteoporosis. However, the skeletal effects of short-term triple therapy containing PPI remain elusive. This study aims to determine the skeletal effect of short-term triple therapy in a rat model of gastric ulcer induced by H. pylori. Methods Three-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to normal control, H. pylori-inoculated group (negative control) and H. pylori-inoculated group receiving triple therapy consisting of omeprazole [2.035 mg/kg body weight (b.w)], amoxicillin (102.80 mg/kg b.w) and clarithromycin (51.37 mg/kg b.w) (n=6/group). H. pylori infection developed for four weeks after inoculation, followed by two-week triple therapy. At the end of the treatment period, femoral bones of the rats were harvested for analysis. Bone mineral density and content of the femurs were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, while bone strength was measured with a universal mechanical tester. Results Bone mineral content was significantly lower in the negative control group compared to the triple therapy group (p=0.014). Triple therapy decreased strain (vs negative control, p=0.002) and displacement of the femur (vs normal control, p=0.004; vs untreated control, p=0.005). No significant difference was observed in other parameters among the study groups (p>0.05). Conclusion Short-term triple therapy increases bone mineral content but decreases bone strength of rats. Skeletal prophylaxis should be considered for patients on short-term triple therapy containing PPI.

Piper sarmentosum (PS) is a traditional medicinal herb used by South East Asians. It demonstrates promising properties against various non-communicable diseases and infectious agents due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Given that oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in developing and exacerbating metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its principal components (central obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia), PS could manage MetS and its complications. This review summarises the available literature on the effects of PS on principal components of MetS and their complications. The accumulated evidence suggests that PS prevented adiposity, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia in preclinical studies mainly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also protected against MetS-associated cardiovascular complications. This review has identified research gaps in this field and suggested future studies to guide interested researchers to explore further or affirm the therapeutic potential of PS. One of the most significant challenges to the medical use of PS is the absence of randomised controlled trials in humans. This study gap must be bridged before PS supplementation could be used to manage MetS in humans.

Spirulina (blue-green algae) contains a wide range of nutrients with medicinal properties which include β-carotene, chromium, and moderate amounts of vitamins B12. This study aims to determine the preventive effect of spirulina against bone fragility linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n = 6) and diabetes was induced using streptozocin. Rats with a plasma glucose level of 10 mmol/L and above were orally treated for twelve weeks with either a single dose of spirulina, metformin, or a combined dose of spirulina + metformin per day. After the treatment, blood and bones were taken for biochemical analysis, three-dimensional imaging, 3-point biomechanical analysis, histology imaging and gene expression using qPCR. Results showed that diabetes induction and treatment with metformin caused destruction in the trabecular microarchitecture of the femur bone, reduction in serum bone marker and expression of bone formation marker genes in the experimental rats. Spirulina supplementation showed improved trabecular microarchitecture with a denser trabecular network, increased 25-OH vitamin D levels, and lowered the level of phosphate and calcium in the serum. Biomechanical tests revealed increased maximum force, stress strain, young modulus and histology images showed improvement in regular mesh and an increase in osteoblasts and osteocytes. There was an increase in the expression of bone formation marker osteocalcin. The results suggest that spirulina supplementation was more effective at improving bone structural strength and stiffness in diabetic rats compared to metformin. Spirulina may be able to prevent T2DM-related brittle bone, lowering the risk of fracture.

This study was done to evaluate the anti-hypertensive effects of stem extract of Coscinium fenestratum (CF). The stems were air dried for 2 days, grounded and then soaked in organic solvent for 2 days. Thereafter the filtered extract was concentrated using rotary evaporator at 450C to obtain the crude extract. Partial purification was done using silica gel column chromatography to separate the crude extract into five fractions A-E. The effect on hypertension was tested by intravenous injection of each extractinto a normotensive anaesthetized rat andperfused frog heart. The effect Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP), Heart rate (beats per minute) (HR) and force of contraction (FOC) was recorded via the BIOPAC LAB PRO SOFTWARE. The phytochemical compound present in the extract was identified using a simple colorimetric biochemical method. The extract showed a reduction of theMABP, HR and FOC in the presence of norepinephrine and without norepinephrine. The effect of the extract was more than that of commercial drug atenolol. Colorimetric phytochemistry testing revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tanins, cardiac glycoside and alkaloids. The effect maybe because of the type of bioactive compounds present in the extract which has previously shown antioxidant property.

Purpose : To evaluate the effect of Coscinium fenestratum (CF) crude extract on hypertension in animal models. Methods : Dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), and butanol (BuOH) extracts were obtained by fractionation from the crude methanol extract. The dried extracts were then administered to Sprague- Dawley (250 – 300 mg) rats (n = 20) and frogs (n = 20) of either sex. CF effect on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), heart rate (HR) and force of contraction (FOC) were assessed with the aid of Biopac Lab Pro Software. Atenolol (5 ug/ml) and acetylcholine (5 ug/ml) were used as controls. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and phytochemical studies were carried out on the extract. Results : The methanol extract (M - E) reduced MABP by 45.60 %, HR by 48.50 %, FOC .by 58.40 %; Fraction - E of the methanol extract reduced MABP by 60.60 %, HR by 58.60 %, FOC by 65.80 %; compared to atenolol which lowered MABP by 52.80 %, HR by 50.60 %, and FOC by 58.80 %; acetylcholine which reduced MABP by 30.50 % HR by 33.60 %, and FOC by 10.50 % in the presence and absence of norepinephrine. Preliminary phytochemical analysis by HPLC indicate the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycoside, alkaloids, columbamine, berberine and naringin. Conclusion : The results show that Coscinium fenestratum extract lowers MABP, HR and FOC in rats. These effects may be due to the bioactive components present in the extract. Keywords : Coscinium fenestratum , Hypertension, Norepinephrine, Acetylcholine, Atenolol

Coscinium fenestratum is a woody climber found in south East Asia and has been widely used as a medicinal plant. The infusion and tincture preparation of stem is widely used in traditional medicine. Our research aims to investigate the effect of Coscinium fenestratum ( C. fenestratum ) stem extract on plasma glucose, biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzymes and proteome in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Crude extract from C. fenestratum stem was extracted using Dichloromethane (DCM) and fractionated into fractions using column chromatography. The glucose lowering effect was examined using STZ-induced rats and biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes assessed using commercial laboratory services. Proteome analysis was done using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (Proteomics technique). Protein–protein interaction network (PPI) was determined by multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) and the interaction between the proteins were analyzed using STRING v10 database. Our findings showed that C. fenestratum stem extract was able to reduce the plasma glucose level, maintain the kidney and liver biomarkers and increase the antioxidant enzymes. Proteome analysis showed elevation of lipid metabolizing proteins, channel proteins, protection proteins, antioxidant proteins, and digestive proteins in the treated group. HPLC analyses of purified fraction E from the stem extract of C. fenestratum have shown that Palmatine is one of the major bioactive components. C. fenestratum stem extract is able to reduce the plasma glucose level, reduce lipids, increase antioxidant enzymes and stimulated the very important lipid metabolizing proteins, channel proteins, protection proteins, antioxidant proteins, and digestive proteins.

Labisia pumila, LP (Myrsinaceae), is a popular herb among the women in Malaysia known locally as ‘‘Kacip Fatimah. It has been claimed by the traditional medicinal practitioner as a pain reliever, treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatism and fever. This study was aimed to investigate the partially purified crude extracts of Labisia pumila (DELP) for its antiinflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic effects. Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and carrageenan-induced paw oedema was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity whereas hot plate test and formalin test was used for the antinocicpetive activity. Antipyretic activity was determined by yeast induced pyrexia method. Partial purification of DELP extract resulted in 5 different fractions (A-E). All the fractions of DELP showed significant anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activity in the entire test used. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, saponin, alkaloids and tannins. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of catechin, The present study confirmed that the extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activity, supporting its folk use and is in consonances with our earlier report.

Labisia pumila popularly known as Kacip Fatimah is a sub herbaceous plant which belonging to the Myrsinaceae family. It has been used in folk medicine to treat dysenteries and inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatism. Our previous study showed that crude dichloromethane extract exhibited a very strong anti-asthmatic and mast-cell stabilizing activity. In this present study, partially purified fractions A-E, of dichloromethane (DELP) crude extract obtained by column chromatography techniques were studied for their anti-asthmatic effect. 1% histamine, serotonin and bradykinin (0.1ml/rat) was dissolved with 0.9% (w/v) saline and subcutaneously injected to induce edema formation. 2mg of arachidonic acid was dissolved in 20μl of acetone and topically applied to mouse ear to induce ear edema. Also, 1% histamine and acetylcholine was dissolved in saline and was used to induce bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. Oral treatment of partially purified fractions A-E (100mg/kg), and indomethacin (10mg/kg) inhibited significantly (p