Cyclophosphamide (CP) is commonly used as an anticancer agent but has been associated with high toxicity in several animal organs, including the testes. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a polyphosphorylated carbohydrate that is present in foods with high fibre contents and has a wide range of essential physiological and pathological activities. Thus, we estimated the defensive effects of IP6 against CP-related testicular toxicity in rats. Sperm counts, motilities, viabilities and abnormalities and levels of testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were evaluated. Testicle specimens were also processed for histological and biochemical analyses, including determinations of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, total antioxidant capacity, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, ß-glucuronidase, c-reactive protein, monocyte chemoattractant protein and leukotriene-4 and in comet assays. CP treatments were associated with deleterious histopathological, biochemical and genetic changes in rat testicles, and these were ameliorated by IP6 supplements in drinking water.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and one of the most common metabolic diseases affecting large proportion of world population. Diabetes-induced changes in lipid and renal parameters are major risk factors contributing to diabetic complications such as diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular diseases. Due to adverse effects associated with pharmacological intervention in the T2DM treatment, there is an increased interest in the research focussing on identifying novel plant based therapeutic agents. Here we report the effects of various coconut products on diabetic, lipid and renal parameters in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. Diabetic rats demonstrated a significant increase in serum glucose, and glycated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c). Lipid parameters including triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-cholesterol) were found to be significantly increased, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) was significantly declined in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats also displayed increased serum and kidney creatinine, urea, and total protein levels and increased urine glucose, urea, albumin and creatinine levels. Contrastingly, treatment with virgin and filtered coconut oils, coconut water and coconut milk resulted in a significant reversal in the levels of above studied parameters in diabetic rats. Further, these coconut products markedly prevented diabetes induced histopathological changes in kidney tissue. Collectively, the data demonstrate the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and renal protective properties of various coconut products and underscore the importance of regular consumption of plant based medicinal products in the treatment of T2DM and its complications.
Bioactive peptides produced from natural sources are considered as strategic target for drug discovery. Hyperglycemia caused protein glycation alters the structure of many tissues that impairs their functions and lead complications diseases in human body. This study investigated the bioactive peptides produced from red and brown Lens culinaris that might inhibit protein glycation to prevent diabetic complications. In this study, red and brown Lens culinaris protein hydrolysates were prepared by tryptic digestion, using an enzyme/substrate ratio of 1:20 (g/g), at 37°C, 12 hr then peptide fractions <3 kDa were filtered by using ultrafiltration membranes. Protective ability against protein glycation, DPPH radical scavenging, and anti-proliferative activities (on HepG2, MCF-7, and PC3 cell lines) of peptide fractions were assayed in vitro. Results showed that glycation was inhibited by peptides from 28.1% to 68.3% in different test model. PC3 cell line was more sensitive to the peptides which showed strong anticancer activity with lower IC50 (0.96 mg/ml). Peptide fractions were sequenced by HPLC-MS-MS. Twenty eight novel peptides sequences was identified. In silico study, two peptides could be developed as a potential bioactive peptides exhibited antiglycation, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities. Practical applications Peptides are becoming an emerging source of medications with the development of new technologies. We have selected Lens Culinaris as one of the rich sources of proteins to explore novel bioactive peptides encapsulated in its seeds. Peptides fractions demonstrated protective ability against protein glycation, strong antioxidant potential, and promising antiproliferative activity. We have identified 28 novel peptides and molecular docking study revealed that some peptides showed strong binding potential to insulin receptor and ACE. Thus, these peptides might be used to manage diabetes complication as well as COVID-19 disease due to their interaction with ACE. However, those peptides needs to be further studied as a potential new drug.
For controlling pathogenic bacteria using nanopolymer composites with essential oils, the formulation of chitosan/alginate nanocomposites (CS/ALG NCs) loaded with thyme oil, garlic oil, and thyme/garlic oil was investigated. Oils were encapsulated in CS/ALG NCs through oil-in-water emulsification and ionic gelation. The CS/ALG NCs loaded with oils of garlic, thyme, and garlic–thyme complex had mean diameters of 143.8, 173.9, and 203.4 nm, respectively. They had spherical, smooth surfaces, and zeta potential of +28.4 mV for thyme–garlic-loaded CS/ALG NCs. The bactericidal efficacy of loaded NCs with mixed oils outperformed individual loaded oils and ampicillin, against foodborne pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible (with 28.7 mm inhibition zone and 12.5 µg·mL−1 bactericidal concentration), whereas Escherichia coli was the most resistant (17.5 µg·mL−1 bactericidal concentration). Scanning electron microscopy images of bacteria treated with NCs revealed strong disruptive effects on S. aureus and Aeromonas hydrophila cells; treated cells were totally exploded or lysed within 8 h. These environmentally friendly nanosystems might be a viable alternative to synthetic preservatives and be of interest in terms of health and food safety.
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