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Type-II Diabetes is the most common form of Diabetes and accounts for more than 90 percent of all diabetes cases. This disease is also closely associated with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and obesity. It has been seen that Asian Indians seems to be highly susceptible to this disease. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates the total number of diabetic subjects to be around 40.9 million in India and this is further set to rise to 69.9 million by the year 2025. Genetic factors play an important role in the development of this disease and the major focus is on insulin signaling pathway. Major focus of our research is on the mutation screening and association analysis of PC-1 and IRS-1 gene in Type II diabetic patients from Northern India. Now first of all we have to understand why these genes are important in Type-II Diabetes. Both these genes are involved in insulin signaling pathway. Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 plays a key role in transmitting signals from the insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors to intracellular pathways PI3K / Akt and Erk MAP kinase pathways.IRS-1 plays important biological function for both metabolic and mitogenic (growth promoting) pathways. Plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 (PC-1) affects insulin signalling by direct interaction with insulin receptor α-subunit blocking insulin action.PC-1 is expressed in many tissues and inhibits insulin signalling either at the level of the insulin receptor or downstream at a postreceptor site. An elevated PC-1 content in insulin target tissues may play an important role in the development of insulin resistance in obesity and T2DM mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, comparative analysis of skeletal muscle transcriptome was carried out for four biological replicates of Aseel, a fighter type breed and Punjab Brown, a meat type breed of India. The profusely expressed genes in both breeds were related to muscle contraction and motor activity. Differential expression analysis identified 961 up-regulated and 979 down-regulated genes in Aseel at a threshold of log2 fold change ≥ ±2.0 (padj<0.05). Significantly enriched KEGG pathways in Aseel included metabolic pathways and oxidative phosphorylation, with higher expression of genes associated with fatty acid beta-oxidation, formation of ATP by chemiosmotic coupling, response to oxidative stress, and muscle contraction. The highly connected hub genes identified through gene network analysis in the Aseel gamecocks were HNF4A, APOA2, APOB, APOC3, AMBP, and ACOT13, which are primarily associated with energy generating metabolic pathways. The up-regulated genes in Punjab Brown chicken were found to be related to muscle growth and differentiation. There was enrichment of pathways such as focal adhesion, insulin signaling pathway and ECM receptor interaction in these birds. The results presented in this study help to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with fighting ability and muscle growth in Aseel and Punjab Brown chicken, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports antidiabetic activity of leaf essential oil (EO) of Cinnamomum travancoricum from the Western Ghats, India via in vitro , in vivo and in silico methods. EO was characterized by GC-MS and GC-FID. Essential oil nanoemulsions (EN) were prepared and characterized. Antidiabetic potential was evaluated through in vitro assays namely, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, glucose uptake and insulin secretion assays. In vivo study was conducted on STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Molecular docking was conducted to find the lead antidiabetic compounds. Of the 42 compounds identified in the EO, α-phellandrene (5.9%), β-phellandrene (12.6%), linalool (23.6%), safrole (6.8%) and shyobunol (5.1%) were major constituents. Of the two ENs formulated, 1:2 ratio (EO to surfactants) was better in zeta size (51.4 nm) and potential (−30.9). In vitro results were impressive. EN lowered elevated blood glucose level to normal (p < 0.01) and improved the insulin secretion (p < 0.01) in diabetic rats. Further, serum AST, ALT, ALP, triglyceride and pancreatic β-cell damage were seen reduced (p < 0.05). Molecular docking studies showed minor constituents of EO, namely, δ-cadinene, elemol, spathulenol and α-copaen-11-ol playing active role in antidiabetic activity through α-amylase, α-glucosidase, insulin receptor, and insulin secretion proteins. [Display omitted] • Leaf essential oil of Cinnamomum travancoricum was characterized. • Linalool, α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, safrole and shyobunol were major compounds. • Essential oil nanoemulsion were prepared and characterized. • Essential oil nanoemulsion lowered elevated blood glucose level via different mechanisms. • Possible antidiabetic compounds were identified through in silico studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer and Diabetes are the leading complex, heterogeneous sets of diseases with higher mortality rates. Phytotherapy emerges as an ultimate treatment strategy because plant-based therapies are highly commendable for their better compatibility, lesser side effects and are also enduring in terms of feasibility and druggability. The endocrine signaling network with receptors and downstream effector molecules are involved in the control mechanisms of homeostasis. The therapeutic potentials of the phytocompounds are therefore interlinked with the cascade of signaling pathways relying on endocrine regulators. Biochemical assays, RIA, cell-based assays such as MTT & LDH, AO/EtBr and DAPI staining, flow cytometric analysis, immunocytochemistry, molecular techniques such as DNA fragmentation using agarose gel electrophoresis, gene and protein expression studies via PCR and Western blot techniques, Light microscopic studies and immunohistochemical analysis of tissues, CADD and molecular docking analysis were applied to fulfill the objectives. The antidiabetic, anticancer and chemopreventive efficacy of the phytocompounds isolated from the various solvent extracts of medicinal plants like Cassia fistula, Terminalia bellerica, Tinospora cordifolia, Gymnema sylvestre, and Costus speciosus has been evaluated and proved to possess the therapeutic efficacies against diabetes and cancer. The in-silico approaches utilizing computational tools is coherent to the former in-vitro studies. The research evidence suggests that several key hormones, enzymes and proteins involved in the diabetic and cancer pathways are way more interconnected with the endocrine signaling factors and system. This provides a synergistic therapeutic effect of the phycompounds in diabetic and cancer conditions. The future research focus is based on the identification and crystallization of the pivotal protein receptors involved in insulin signaling and apoptotic pathways through X-ray crystallographic studies. DBT-BIF Centre, Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tamil Nadu, India is greatly acknowledged for in-silico studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia and accounts for 90 per cent of diabetes cases. Salacia reticulata Wight, a climbing shrub indigenous to India and Sri Lanka, is an important source of anti-diabetic compounds. In this study, the abundance of naringenin was estimated in various tissues of the plant using RP-HPLC. The highest concentration of naringenin was found in fresh and dried roots at 3.4 and 3.2%, respectively. Through in silico analysis affinity of naringenin to PPAR-, 11ß-Hydroxysteroid-Dehydrogenase I, PPAR-a, PPAR-d and Glycogen Synthase Kinase - 3ß, the targets for type 2 diabetes mellitus drug targets were -8.7, -8.4, -7.1, -8.4 and -7.8 kcal/mol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multigenic disorder, and insulin resistance is one of its hallmark features. Polymorphisms in exon 17 of insulin receptor (INSR) gene are reported to be associated with PCOS. We investigated this association in Indian women and its putative relationship with PCOS associated traits, which has not been explored so far. METHODS: In this case control study, the polymorphisms were investigated by direct sequencing in 180 women with PCOS and 144 age matched controls. Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were also estimated. RESULTS: The silent C/T polymorphism at His1058 in exon 17 of INSR was found to be present in our study population. The polymorphic genotype (CT+TT) was significantly associated with PCOS in lean women (χ2=8.493, df=1, P=0.004). It showed association with higher fasting insulin levels (P=0.02), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P=0.005), free androgen index (P=0.03), and lower quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (P=0.004) in lean PCOS women. No other novel or known polymorphism was identified in exon 17 in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows significant association of C/T polymorphism at His1058 of INSR with PCOS in the lean rather than obese Indian women. Its association with indices of insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia is also seen in the same group. The findings strengthen the concept that pathogenesis of PCOS is different in lean and obese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]