Altered levels of adipokines, derived as a result of distorted adipocytes, are the major factors responsible for changing biochemical parameters in obesity that leads to the development of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. In our previous reports, chitosan oligosaccharides (CO) were proved to inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effect of CO on ob/ob mice, by means of differential proteomic analysis of plasma. This was followed by immunoblotting, and gene expression in adipose tissue to clarify the molecular mechanism. CO treatment showed reduced diet intake (13%), body weight gain (12%), lipid (29%) and glucose levels (35%). 2-DE results showed differential levels of five proteins namely RBP4, apoE, and apoA-IV by >2-fold down-regulation and by >2-fold of apoA-I and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) up-regulation after CO treatment. Immunoblotting studies of adiponectin and resistin showed amelioration in their levels in plasma. Furthermore, the results of gene expressions for adipose tissue specific TNF-alpha, and IL-6 secretary molecules were also down-regulated by CO treatment. Gene expressions of PPAR gamma in adipose tissue were in good agreement with the ameliorated levels of adipokines, thereby improving the pathological state. Taken together, CO might act as a potent down-regulator of obesity-related gene expression in ob/ob mice that may normalize altered plasma proteins to overcome metabolic disorders of obesity.

This study investigated the phytochemical, antioxidative, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of Leea indica leaf ethanol extract. Phytochemical values namely total phenolic and flavonoid contents, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical scavenging effect, FeCl3 reducing power, DMSO superoxide scavenging effect and Iron chelating effects were studied by established methods. Antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic effects were screened by disk diffusion technique, food poison technique and brine shrimp bioassay, respectively. Results showed the total phenolic content 24.00 ± 0.81 g GAE/100 g, total flavonoid content 194.68 ± 2.43 g quercetin/100 g and total antioxidant capacity 106.61 ± 1.84 g AA/100 g dry extract. Significant (P < 0.05) IC50 values compared to respective standards were recorded in DPPH radical scavenging (139.83 ± 1.40 μg/ml), FeCl3 reduction (16.48 ± 0.64 μg/ml), DMSO superoxide scavenging (676.08 ± 5.80 μg/ml) and Iron chelating (519.33 ± 16.96 μg/ml) methods. In antibacterial screening, the extract showed significant (P < 0.05) zone of inhibitions compared to positive controls Ampicillin and Tetracycline against Gram positive Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, and Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Vibrio cholerae, and Escherichia coli. Significant minimum inhibitory concentrations compared to tetracycline were obtained against the above organisms. In antifungal assay, the extract inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans and Fusarium equisetii by 38.09 ± 0.59, 22.58 ± 2.22, and 22.58 ± 2.22%, respectively. The extract showed a significant LC50 value compared to vincristine sulfate in cytotoxic assay. The results evidenced the potential antioxidative, antimicrobial and cytotoxic capacities of Leea inidica leaf extract to be processed for pharmaceutical use.

The effects of ethanol extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) seeds on the blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats at different doses (2g/kg, 1g/kg, 0.5g/kg and 0.1g/kg) were studied. The hypoglycemic effect of extract was compared with that of the standard antidiabetic drug (glimepiride, 4mg/kg) single dose. The extract showed significant activity against the diabetic state induced by alloxan but the intensity of hypoglycemic effect varied from dose to dose. The most effective dose recognized was 1g/kg but that is still lower than the standard antidiabetic drug. No acute toxicity was observed for ethanol extract of T. foenum-graecum seed when it was administered orally at high dose level (3 g/kg body weight), which is higher than effective antihyperglycemic dose, and closely observed for 24 hrs for any mortality and next 10 days for any delayed toxic effects on gross behavioral activities. Phytochemical group tests were also accomplished and presence of alkaloids, steroids and carbohydrates were recognized in the extract.

Objective: Present study aims to investigate both qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals presence, antioxidant, thrombolytic, a-amylase and cytotoxic activity of a Bangladeshi plant Steudnera colocasiifolia K. Koch leaf ethanolic extract. Methods: Phytochemical screening was accomplished by using established methods. Thrombolytic assay was conducted through clot lysis method. Al pha amylase inhibition assay was made by modified enzyme inhibitory action and cytotoxi city was studied by brine shrimp lethality test. Data was analyzed by One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using statistical software Statisti cal Package for Social Science (SPSS, Version 22.0, IBM corporation, NY) followed by stu dent 't' test with GraphPad Prism Data Editor for Windows, Version 6.0 (GraphPad software Inc., San Diego, CA). Results: Primary screening shows the presence of ma jor metabolites such as alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, saponins, steroid, quinone, cellulose and glycosides while the quantitative analysis elicits the presence of magnificent amount of fla vonoid (70.60 ± 0.23), proanthocyanidin (64.46 ± 0.58), flavonol (71.22 ± 0.07) and total an tioxidant (66.40 ± 0.26) in the extract. The thrombolytic effect of S. colocasiifolia was found to be 35.16% and this extract had good a-amylase inhibitory activity (IC 50 =2.16 ± 0.06 mg/ml) as compared to Acarbose. The extract was found to have a LC 50 value of 305.2 μg/ml in Brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Conclusion: Results demonstrate the Steudnera colocasiifolia has a very good prospect to be studied further for its extended antioxidative and a-amylase inhibi tory effects.