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Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which an outcome of impaired insulin action and its secretion, is concomitantly associated with lipid abnormalities. The study was designed to evaluate the combinational effect of omega-3 fatty acids (flax and fish oil) and glibenclamide on abnormal lipid profiles, increased blood glucose, and impaired liver and kidney functions in a high fat diet with low streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, including its probable mechanism of action. The male Wistar rats (n = 48) were distributed into eight groups. All animal groups except the healthy received a high fat diet (HFD) for 90 days. Further, diabetes was developed by low dose STZ (35 mg/kg). Diabetic animals received, omega-3 fatty acids (500 mg/kg), along with glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg). Both flax and fish oil intervention decreased (p &le, 0.001) serum triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein and elevated (p &le, 0.001) high density lipoprotein levels in diabetic rats. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein level was decreased (p &le, 0.001) in fish oil-treated rats. However, it remained unaffected in the flax oil treatment group. Both flax and fish oil intervention downregulate the expression of fatty acid metabolism genes, transcription factors (sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c and nuclear factor-&kappa, &beta, ), and their regulatory genes i.e., acetyl-coA carboxylase alpha, fatty acid synthase, and tumor necrosis factors-&alpha, The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma gene expression was upregulated (p &le, 0.001) in the fish oil treatment group. Whereas, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and fatty acid binding protein gene expression were upregulated (p &le, 0.001) in both flax and fish oil intervention group.

OBJECTIVE The present study analyzed the effects of antidiabetic drugs on antioxidant enzymes and liver function test (LFT) markers and their association with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in type 2 diabetic subjects. METHODS We assessed healthy and diabetic subjects (100 each). Diabetic subjects were divided based on treatment with only metformin, metformin in combination with other antidiabetic drugs and insulin in combination with other antidiabetic drugs. LFT markers, antioxidant status and HOMA-IR were assessed in the subjects. RESULTS Superoxide dismutase activity was higher (p

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. F., and Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merrill, are herbaceous vines found all over India and are well known herbal medicines. Since, ancient time T. cordifolia , T. sinensis and Neem-giloe ( T. cordifolia growing on Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) individually have been used in the ayurvedic medicine system in the form of Guduchi satwa to treat liver disorders. In the present studies, hepatoprotective potential of satwa prepared from three Tinospora species against hepatotoxicity induced by repeated dosing of acetaminophen was assessed. Repeated acetaminophen dosing produced elevations in the level of liver marker enzymes and changes in the lipid profile status of the animals. T. cordifolia had a specific action on maintaining lipid profile with improvements in the levels of total cholesterol, HDL and LDL. T. sinensis exhibited a positive effect on SGPT and ALP activities apart from improvements in VLDL and triglyceride levels. Neem guduchi had specific beneficial effect on SGOT and bilirubin levels. The differential hepatoprotective effect of these three different satwa was also evident from liver histology. T. cordifolia exhibited normalization of periportal hepatocytes while T. sinensis showed prominent hepato-regenerative activity with increase in the normal hepatocytes in the treatment group. The Neem guduchi treated group showed strikingly normal liver histology without any anatomically detectable anomalies. The results reveal that these satwa have their actions at different physiological targets and hence exhibit differential hepatoprotective activity. Due to this differential hepatoprotective activity these three satwa may be used in combination as a liver tonic. It is also required that the effect of these satwa on the acute acetaminophen hepatotoxicity should be assessed.

The study was designed to assess the effect of different strawberry extracts on glucose levels, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress in nicotinamide-streptozotocin (NIC-STZ) induced diabetic rats. The associated changes were evaluated through biochemical, molecular, and histological assays. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ to albino Wistar rats after treatment with nicotinamide. Aqueous, hydroalcoholic, and alcoholic strawberry extracts were administrated orally to diabetic rats. Treatment of strawberry extracts improved lipid profile, liver function, and serum creatinine and led to a significant increase in antioxidant status in diabetic rats. Real-time PCR expression analysis of genes from the liver of animals treated with strawberry extracts exhibited downregulation of several fatty acid synthesis genes, transcription factors, such as Sterol regulatory Element Binding Transcription factor (SREBP) and Nuclear Factor-κβ (NF-κβ), and inflammatory markers, like Interleukin 6 (IL6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). Strawberry extracts also upregulated liver Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Histological examination confirmed the nephroprotective and β-cell regeneration/protection effects of strawberry extracts. The present study demonstrates several beneficial effects of strawberry extracts along with its probable mechanism of action.

Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth) Arn. or Indian licorice is considered to be a substitute for Glycyrrhiza glabra L. owing to an equivalent content of glycyrrhizic acid (GA). GA recognized as the main active ingredient of T. cuneifolia, GA imparts several medicinal properties to these plants. However, research on this plant is scanty with no published record on tissue culture studies. Present study demonstrates a method for (1) induction and successful development of somatic embryos from the root culture, (2) regeneration of plants, and (3) GA production by root cultures of T. cuneifolia. Shoot initiation frequency of cultured roots ranged from 52.57% to 97.71%. Plant regeneration frequency (germination) from somatic embryos was 88.66% in 1/4-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, as against 68% in half 1/2-strength MS containing 2% sucrose. Glycyrrhizic acid of 1.32 mg/gm of dry weight was obtained in full-strength MS medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, through high-performance thin layer chromatography analysis with standard GA in root cultures. The present study provides an efficient method for the mass production of plants from a single mother plant as well as the potential root culture system to study the GA production pathways in T. cuneifolia.