BackgroundDiabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome are the common problems of the modern society. The interest in herbal medicines increases, and often they are used in combination with conventional drugs. Aegopodium podagraria L. (goutweed) is a plant widely used in traditional medicine. Hypoglycemic effect of goutweed aerial part tincture has been previously shown in alloxan-induced diabetic mice and in rats receiving excess of fructose and hydrochlorothiazide. The effects of co-administration of the tincture with widely used antihyperglycemic drugs have not been verified. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of goutweed tincture and its combination with metformin using the model reproducing the pathogenetic mechanisms of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.MethodsThe animals were divided into 5 groups, as follows: intact control, dexamethasone (untreated), dexamethasone + metformin, 50 mg/kg; dexamethasone + A. podagraria tincture, 1 ml/kg intragastrically; dexamethasone + metformin, 50 mg/kg intragastrically + A. podagraria tincture, 1 ml/kg intragastrically. Dexamethasone was used at a dose of 5 mg/kg subcutaneously for 5 days. Insulin tolerance test and oral glucose tolerance test were performed, triglycerides, total lipids, total and HDL cholesterol content in plasma were determined, LDL cholesterol content was calculated, glycogen content in the liver was measured.ResultsGoutweed tincture combined with metformin increased its effect on the basal glycemia and on the results of the short insulin test. In the oral glucose tolerance test the lowest area under glucose curve and average glycemia value were seen in animals receiving this combination. Only metformin tended toward the reduction of liver glycogen. The decrease in triglycerides and increment of HDL cholesterol content (caused by the tincture), as well as tendency towards the decrease in total lipids level (caused by metformin) were observed against a background of the investigated combination, though the ability of GW tincture to reduce LDL cholesterol content and the same tendency seen against a background of metformin were eliminated when these preparations were administered together.ConclusionIt has been shown that goutweed tincture combined with the respectively low dose of metformin partially increases the efficacy of the latter in dexamethasone-treated rats.Graphical abstractGoutweed tincture combined with the respectively low dose of metformin partially increases the efficacy of the latter in dexamethasone-treated rats

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: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder characterized by demyelination of neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis of the disorder is described as an autoimmune attack targeting the myelin sheath of nerve cell axons in the CNS. Available treatments only reduce the risk of relapse prolonging the remissions of neurological symptoms and halt the progression of the disorder. Among the new ways of targeting neurological disorders including MS there is modulation of gut microbiota since the link between gut microbiota has been rethought within the term gut-brain axis. Gut microbiota is known to help the body with essential functions such as vitamin production and positive regulation of immune, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways. High consumption of saturated fatty acids, gluten, salt, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, or antibiotics are responsible factors in causing gut dysbiosis. The latter can lead to dysregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways, which eventually results in leaky gut syndrome, systemic inflammation, autoimmune reactions, and increased susceptibility to infections. In modern medicine, scientists have mostly focused on the modulation of gut microbiota in the development of novel and effective therapeutic strategies for numerous disorders, with probiotics and prebiotics being the most widely studied in this regard. Several pieces of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies have supported the positive impact of probiotic and/or prebiotic intake on gut microbiota and MS. This review aims to link gut dysbiosis with the development/progression of MS, and the potential of modulation of gut microbiota in the therapeutics of the disease.

The effects of goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) preparations on glycemia in intact rats and against the background of metforminThe preparations obtained from goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) are characterized by favorable metabolic effects, including the antidiabetic activity.Aim. To determine the dose dependence of the effect of the extract and the tincture of goutweed on the glucose metabolism in intact rats, to evaluate the metabolic effects and the possibility of the combined use of the goutweed preparations with metformin.Materials and methods. The experiments were conducted on intact rats. The influence of the extract and the tincture of goutweed (per se and combined with metformin) on the basal glycemia and the results of the glucose tolerance test were determined. The metabolic effects which are possibly interrelated (the changes in uric acid and electrolyte exchange) were also studied.Results and discussion. The goutweed tincture exhibits the hypoglycemic action in intact rats after administration of single doses of 0.5; 1.0; 5.0 ml/kg, while the goutweed extract (100; 250; 500 mg/kg and 1.0 g/kg) does not demonstrate this action. The correlation analysis results indicate that certain interrelationship may exist between the effect of the extract on the electrolyte homeostasis and glucose metabolism (though these changes are moderate in intact animals), as well as between the effect of goutweed preparations on uric acid and the glucose exchange. The goutweed tincture in the doses of 0.5 and 1.0 ml/kg does not block the effects of metformin, and does not enhance its effect with the excessive decrease of the blood glucose concentration. The absence of a significant decrease of glycemia after combined administration of the tincture and low doses of metformin may reflect synergoantagonism (however, these phenomena were seen in intact animals, and the dose dependence of the metformin action did not change). In the glucose tolerance test the tincture in the dose of 1.0 ml/kg (but not 0.5 ml/kg) combined with metformin allows reducing its effective dose from 400 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg.Conclusions. Goutweed tincture, in contrast to the extract, shows a dose-dependent hypoglycemic effect and is promising for combined use with metformin.Key words: Aegopodium podagraria L.; glycemia; metformin; rats О. В. Товчига Вплив препаратів яглиці звичайної (Aegopodium podagraria L.) на глікемію в інтактних тварин і на тлі метформінуПрепарати яглиці звичайної (Aegopodium podagraria L.) характеризуються сприятливими метаболічними ефек-тами, в числі яких антидіабетична активність.Мета дослідження -визначити дозозалежність впливу настойки та екстракту Aegopodium podagraria L. на обмін глюкози в інтактних щурів, оцінити метаболічні ефекти, спряжені з цим впливом, встановити можливість поєднаного застосування препаратів яглиці з метформіном.Матеріали та методи. Експерименти проведені на інтактних щурах. Досліджено вплив екстракту та настойки яглиці (per se та у комбінації з метформіном) на базальну глікемію та результати тесту т...