BackgroundThe potential application of Ficus deltoidea and vitexin for the management of symptomatologies associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) has gained much attention. However, less firm evidence comes from data to augment our understanding of the role of F. deltoidea and vitexin in protecting pancreatic β-cells. The aim of this study was to assess histological and oxidative stress changes in the pancreas of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats following F. deltoidea extract and vitexin treatment.Methods F. deltoidea and vitexin was administrated orally to six-weeks STZ-induced diabetic rats over 8 weeks period. The glucose and insulin tolerances were assessed by intraperitoneal glucose (2 g/kg) tolerance test (IPGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin (0.65 U/kg) tolerance test (IPITT), respectively. Subsequently, insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis assessment model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and the insulin/triglyceride-derived McAuley index. The histological changes in the pancreas were then observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Further, the pattern of fatty acid composition and infrared (IR) spectra of the serum and pancreas were monitored by gas chromatography (GC) method and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.Results F. deltoidea and vitexin increased pancreatic antioxidant enzymes and promoted islet regeneration. However, a significant increase in insulin secretion was observed only in rats treated with F. deltoidea. More importantly, reduction of fasting blood glucose is consistent with reduced FT-IR peaks at 1200-1000 cm−1.ConclusionsThese results accentuate that F. deltoidea and vitexin could be a potential agent to attenuate pancreatic oxidative damage and advocate their therapeutic potential for treating DM.

Background Insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances are key features in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We have previously shown that Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) can improve insulin sensitivity and hormonal profile in PCOS female rats. However, biological characteristics underpinning the therapeutic effects of F. deltoidea for treating PCOS remain to be clarified. This study aims to investigate the biochemical, hormonal, and histomorphometric changes in letrozole (LTZ)-induced PCOS female rats following treatment with F. deltoidea. Methods PCOS was induced in rats except for normal control by administering LTZ at 1 mg/kg/day for 21 days. Methanolic extract of F. deltoidea leaf was then orally administered to the PCOS rats at the dose of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/day, respectively for 15 consecutive days. Lipid profile was measured enzymatically in serum. The circulating concentrations of reproductive hormone and antioxidant enzymes were determined by ELISA assays. Ovarian and uterus histomorphometric changes were further observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results The results showed that treatment with F. deltoidea at the dose of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day reduced insulin resistance, obesity indices, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to near-normal levels in PCOS rats. The levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), estrogen, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are also similar to those observed in normal control rats. Histomorphometric measurements confirmed that F. deltoidea increased the corpus luteum number and the endometrial thickness. Conclusions F. deltoidea can reverse PCOS symptoms in female rats by improving insulin sensitivity, antioxidant activities, hormonal imbalance, and histological changes. These findings suggest the potential use of F. deltoidea as an adjuvant agent in the treatment program of PCOS.

Background: Insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances are key features in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We have shown that Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) can improve insulin sensitivity and hormonal profile in PCOS female rats. However, biological characteristics underpinning the therapeutic effects of F. deltoidea for treating PCOS remain to be clarified. This study aims to investigate the biochemical, hormonal, and histomorphometric changes in letrozole (LTZ)-induced PCOS female rats following treatment with F. deltoidea.Methods: PCOS was induced in rats except for normal control by administering LTZ at 1 mg/kg/day for 21 days. Methanolic extract of F. deltoidea leaf was then orally administered to the PCOS rats at the dose of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/day, respectively for 15 consecutive days. Lipid profile was measured enzymatically in serum. The circulating concentrations of reproductive hormone and antioxidant enzymes were determined by ELISA assays. Ovarian and uterus histomorphometric changes were further observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.Results: The results showed that treatment with F. deltoidea at the dose of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day reduced insulin resistance, obesity indices, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to near-normal levels in PCOS rats. The levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), estrogen, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) also similar to those observed in normal control rats. Histomorphometric measurements confirmed that F. deltoidea increased the corpus luteum number and the endometrial thickness.Conclusions: F. deltoidea can reverse PCOS symptoms in female rats by improving insulin sensitivity, antioxidant activities, hormonal imbalance, and histological changes. These findings suggest the potential use of F. deltoidea as an adjuvant agent in the treatment program of PCOS.

Insulin signalling in bone favours whole-body glucose homeostasis by activating osteocalcin, which is important for bone remodeling. However, diabetes causes deficient production of insulin which consequently affects the osteocalcin and bone turnover marker. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of A. excelsa to improve insulin and osteocalcin secretion, resulting in improved bone histomorphometric and bone turnover marker in STZ- induced diabetic rats. The experimental rats were divided into normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), Metformin-treated diabetic (DMET) (positive control) and A. excelsa-treated diabetic (DAE) rats with the treatment period of eight weeks. After the treatment, the femoral bones were removed and bone morphometrical parameters  were defined using Micro-CT scan. The bones were analysed for mineral density (BMD) and trabecular parameters. The bones samples were decalcified for histological preparation and  images of the  was hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained bones were captured and analysed. The concentrations of serum insulin, osteocalcin and bone turnover marker were evaluated using specific ELISA kits. The study showed that A. excelsa caused a significant increase in insulin and osteocalcin levels. A. excelsa also represents ameliorative effects on trabecular bone of the diabetic rat. The data also demonstrated that with A. excelsa treatment, it moderately restored the balance between bone formation and bone resorption markers. These data confirmed that A. excelsa extract could attenuate the STZ-induced bone loss and reverses the deterioration of bone microarchitecture in diabetic rats. This finding indicates the osteoprotective effects presence in the A. excelsa extract.

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Background: Ficus deltoidea (Ficus: Moraceae) has great potential as a functional food. Administration of F. deltoidea has been reported to reduce hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and increase insulin secretion in diabetic rats and humans. However, the poor bioavailability and intestinal absorption of F. deltoidea impede its therapeutic effectiveness at a lower dosage, thus integrating F. deltoidea into brown rice will provide additional advantages. This study aimed to examine the phyto-physicochemical profile, antioxidant properties, consumer acceptance, and safety of beverages formulated from fine powder mixtures of F. deltoidea leaves and brown rice. Methods: The new beverage formulations were prepared by mixing the fine powders of F. deltoidea leaves with brown rice at ratios of 1:6 and 1:13, respectively. Physicochemical, phytochemical, and antioxidant analyses were performed to characterize the prepared beverages. Consumer acceptance was assessed utilising a 9-point hedonic scale and an acute toxicity study was employed to determine the safety of F. deltoidea-added formulations. Results: F. deltoidea decreased the pH and increased the moisture content, ash, and viscosity of a brown rice beverage. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content as well as antioxidant activities increased significantly in both F. deltoidea-added formulations. The oral LD 50 of the F. deltoidea-added formulation was higher than 2000 mg/kg body weight. Conclusions: These results suggest that adding F. deltoidea leaves to brown rice beverages is safe to consume and improves the phyto-physicochemical profile, antioxidant activities, and consumers' acceptance of the formulation.

Melanin is a protective pigment against cellular damage and skin cancer. Peltophorum pterocarpum has been used for centuries to treat skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. However, whether P. pterocarpum leaf extract can affect melanin synthesis with the advantage of antioxidant defense against ultraviolet (UV) radiation remains to be investigated. We aimed to examine the melanogenesis, cytotoxicity, and antioxidant activities of P. pterocarpum leaf extracts. A two-dimensional (2D) cell culture model was employed to demonstrate the effect of P. pterocarpum extracts on melanin synthesis. The cell viability of B16-F1 melanoma cells was measured by Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) assay. Antioxidant activity was accessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assays. The ethanol extract of P. pterocarpum dose-dependently increased the melanin content and displayed cytotoxicity to B16-F1 melanoma cells at the highest concentration. In contrast, the equal amounts of the aqueous extract significantly inhibited melanin synthesis and did not show any cytotoxic effects on B16-F1 melanoma cells. The P. pterocarpum ethanol extract had a significantly higher total phenolic and flavonoid content than the aqueous extract and was more effective at scavenging DPPH free radicals and intracellular ROS induced by UVB, with IC50 of 519.24 ± 122.57 vs 1798.45 ± 143.09 µg/mL and 878.00 ± 23.50 vs 1379.00 ± 21.81 µg/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that the pro-melanogenic and anti-melanogenic activities of P. pterocarpum extract with antioxidant capacity against UVB-induced cellular damage are affected by the total phenolic and flavonoid contents.

The DNSA assay has been widely employed for the in vitro detection and quantification of alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. However, the conventional method is associated with inconsistencies between protocols and requires a large volume of samples and other assay reagents that can compromise accurate quantitation. Therefore, the study aimed to develop a reliable, simple, and rapid analytical method for determining α-amylase activity. The developed method was carried out in 96-well microplates with a total volume of 250 µL and a total assay time of 1 hr, including pre-incubation. The method was validated for linearity, the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantitation (LOQ), and precision. A higher coefficient of determination (R2) value was observed for the developed method as compared to the conventional method (0.9983 ± 0.0003 vs 0.9667 ± 0.0383). The coefficient of variation (CV%) of each data point was less than 15%, indicating excellent data precision. The optimum assay conditions were identified at 2 U/mL of enzyme solution and 5% (w/v) starch solution at 50 °C incubation temperature with an IC50 value of 0.026 ± 0.005 mg/mL. It is concluded that the developed method is practical, precise, and accurate for estimating α-amylase inhibitory activity and would provide reproducible results.