Our findings suggest that NG may exert its antidiabetic effect by extra-pancreatic action and by suppressing carbohydrate absorption from intestine, thereby reducing the postprandial increase in blood GLU levels.

No abstract

Mentha pulegium is common known as "poleo" and used for the treatment of diarrhea, headache and cough in Mexican traditional medicine. Organic extracts from aerial parts were evaluated to determine their spasmolytic action on rat isolated ileum test. Hexanic (HEMp), dichloromethanic (DEMp) and methanolic (MEMp) extracts induced a concentration-dependent (0.97 to 1000 microg/mL) antispasmodic effect on spontaneous contractions. DEMp was the most active extract; therefore, spasmolytic mechanism was investigated. This extract (200 microg/mL) induced a significant depression on cumulative concentration-response curve for carbachol and serotonin (P<0.05). Besides, extract decreased and shifted to the right KCl- and CaCl2-induced contraction curves. Moreover, pre-incubation with chlorpromazine (0.001 mM) shifted to the left the relaxant curve. Pre-treatment with L-NAME (1 mM), papaverine (0.01 mM), teophylline (0.01 mM), TEA (1 mM) and glybenclamide (0.1 mM) did not produced any changed of the relaxant curves of DEMp. Findings indicate that dichloromethanic extract of M. pulegium induced its spasmolytic effect through Ca2+-influx blockade, which may explain its traditional use against diarrhea.

No abstract

Many studies describe different pharmacological effects of flavonoids on experimental animals and humans. Nevertheless, few ones are confirming the safety of these compounds for therapeutic purposes. This study aimed to investigate the preclinical safety of naringenin, naringin, hesperidin, and quercetin by in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. For this, an MTT-based cytotoxicity assay in VERO and MDCK cell lines was performed. In addition, acute toxicity was evaluated on Wistar rats by OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (Test No. 423: Acute Oral Toxicity-Class Method). Furthermore, we used the ACD/Tox Suite to predict toxicological parameters such as hERG channel blockade, CYP450 inhibition, and acute toxicity in animals. The results showed that quercetin was slightly more cytotoxic on cell lines (IC50 of 219.44 ± 7.22 mM and 465.41 ± 7.44 mM, respectively) than the other citroflavonoids. All flavonoids exhibited an LD50 value > 2000 mg/kg, which classifies them as low-risk substances as OECD guidelines established. Similarly, predicted LD50 was LD50 > 300 to 2000 mg/kg for all flavonoids as acute toxicity assay estimated. Data suggests that all these flavonoids did not show significant toxicological effects, and they were classified as low-risk, useful substances for drug development.