This study was undertaken to determine the phenolic compounds and the anti-atherogenic effect of bee bread in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. The presence of phenolic compounds in bee bread was determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, (n = 8/group); i.e., Normal (N), HFD (high-fat diet), HFD + BB (high-fat diet and 0.5 g/kg/day bee bread), and HFD + O (high-fat diet and 10 mg/kg/day orlistat) groups. After 6 weeks of the experiment, rats were sacrificed. Five phenolic compounds were identified in bee bread; namely, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol, apigenin, and isorhamnetin. Bee bread significantly reduced Lee obesity index and levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity, atherogenic index, oxidised-LDL (oxLDL), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and significantly increased aortic antioxidant activities, such as those of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Adipocyte sizes were found to be smaller in the HFD + BB group compared to the N group, and en face aortas showed an absence of atherosclerotic plaque in rats supplemented with bee bread. These changes might suggest an anti-atherogenic effect of bee bread in HFD-induced obese rats via its antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic properties.

Bee bread samples of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) collected from Kelantan (east coast), Selangor (central) and Perak (northern) regions of Malaysia were subjected to nutritional analysis using standard hydrolysis and oxidation methods. Phytochemical screening was carried out on aqueous and ethanol extracts of bee bread. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing activity of the extracts were also assessed. All samples had essential and non-essential amino acids, carbohydrates, proteins, fat, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, xanthoproteins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, resins, and antioxidant activities. Sample from Kelantan had the significantly highest content of alanine, glycine and isoleucine, while sample from Selangor had the highest content of carbohydrate, total energy and proline. Sample from Perak had the highest content of fat. Bee bread ethanol extract demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant properties compared to bee bread aqueous extract with the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents in sample from Perak and the highest free radical scavenging activity in sample from Selangor. Bee bread from Malaysia has good nutritional and antioxidant properties, which might indicate its potential to be a dietary supplement. The differences in compositions and antioxidant activities among the samples might be related to the floral sources and geographical locations.

Oxidative stress-mediated lipid peroxidation is a known cause of endothelial injury or dysfunction. Deprivation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is associated with oxidative stress. To date, the pathogenesis of increased blood pressure after sleep deprivation remains poorly understood, particularly in the REM sleep phase. Our aim was to investigate the effects of REM sleep deprivation on blood vessels in the REM sleep-deprived rat model. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups: free-moving control rats, rats deprived of REM sleep for 72 h (REMsd), tank control rats and 72 h sleep-recovered rats after 72 h of REM sleep deprivation. The rats were deprived of REM sleep using the inverted flowerpot technique. Food consumption, body weight gain and systolic blood pressure were monitored. At the end of the experiment, the descending thoracic aorta was isolated for the measurement of oxidative stress markers. Despite a significant increase in food consumption in the REMsd group compared with the other groups, there was a significant reduction in body weight gain. Systolic blood pressure also showed a significant increase in the REMsd group compared with the other groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly lower and malondialdehyde concentrations significantly higher in the REMsd group compared with the other groups. Increased levels of malondialdehyde are suggestive of lipid peroxidation in the blood vessels, and oxidative stress may be attributed to the initiation of the process. The changes after REM sleep deprivation revert during sleep recovery. In conclusion, the findings of the present study provide convincing evidence that REM sleep deprivation induced lipid peroxidation, leading to endothelial damage.

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known systemic disease with increasing global prevalence and multi-organ complications including diabetic nephropathy (DN). The trend of using medicinal plants in the management of DM is increasing exponentially. Etlingera elatior is a medicinal plant that contains chemicals and antioxidants that delay the oxidation process. However, available data focusing on its use on DN are inconsistent and scarce. This study aims to investigate the antidiabetic and nephroprotective effects of E. elatior flower aqueous extract (EEAE) in a type 2 DM rat (T2DR) model. The T2DR model was developed using a combination of a high-fat diet (HFD) and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) at 35 mg/kg. Thirty-two Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): (1) control (normal rat), (2) T2DR (untreated-type 2 diabetic rat), (3) Met (250 mg/kg metformin-treated T2DR), and (4) EEAE (1000 mg/kg EEAE-treated T2DR). All treatments were administered orally for 6 weeks. EEAE significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), microalbuminuria, serum creatinine, and serum blood urea nitrogen. EEAE also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and enhanced the levels of antioxidant markers—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). The inflammatory marker (interleukin (IL)-6) and fibrosis markers (transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)) were significantly decreased in the EEAE-treated group. The T2DR group developed DN, which was characterized by segmental sclerosis of the glomeruli associated with focal tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Interestingly, the histology of kidney tissue in the EEAE group was preserved. This effect was similar to that of the control drug metformin. In summary, the antidiabetic and nephroprotective effects might be related to the antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects of the EEAE. The antidiabetic activity could be due to the presence of the active compound cyanidin-3-O-glycosides, which is an anthocyanin antioxidant, that is present in the EEAE. E. elatior has the potential to be developed as a natural source of antioxidants that can be used for the prevention or even the treatment of DM. These findings could lead to future research into the therapeutic use of E. elatior in alleviating the progression of DM and thus preventing nephropathy.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health problem for millions of people worldwide. Nowadays, medicinal plants have started gaining more attention in diabetes management due to the minimal side effects and cost-effectiveness. This study aims to ascertain the antidiabetic potential of the Etlingera elatior flowers aqueous extract on the in vitro inhibition of carbohydrate digestive enzymes and in vivo type 2 DM rat model. The findings demonstrate that E. elatior flower has a high percentage of inhibitory activity against α-amylase (99.70 ± 2.88%) and moderate activity for the α-glucosidase enzyme (52.39 ± 1.50%). In addition, E. elatior flower has also exhibited an antihyperglycemic effect that is dose-dependent and has significantly decreased the elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lowdensity lipoprotein levels in the in vivo study. Furthermore, serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase also were significantly decreased when compared to untreated DM. The high contents of total phenolic (39.06 ± 1.59 mg GAE/g), total flavonoid (39.00 ± 2.42 mg QE/g extract), and potent antioxidant activity were suggested to contribute to the antidiabetic activity of the extract. In conclusion, E. elatior flower could potentially be developed as a natural source of antioxidants that can be used for the prevention or treatment of diabetes.