No abstract

Boerhaavia diffusa, a green leafy vegetable and medicinal plant as whole was traditionally used in treating different ailments due to its multiple pharmacological activities viz., immuno suppressant, anti-diabetic, analgesic, hepatoprotective, antiviral and antifibrinolytic activity, etc. The therapeutic importance of plants is mainly due to polyphenols and their antioxidant properties. In the present study, the antioxidant potency of methanolic extract of B. diffusa (BDE) was investigated using various in vitro model systems such as DPPH, superoxide, nitric oxide radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power and iron chelating activity. Antiperoxidative activity of B. diffusa was also studied in linoelic acid emulsion system. BDE showed significant scavenging activity against hydroxyl and superoxide radical. It also significantly inhibited the lipid peroxidation in linoleic acid emulsion system. Multiple antioxidant activity of BDE was also evident from its significant reducing power and ferrous ion chelating potency. The data obtained in the in vitro models clearly establish the antioxidant potency of BDE. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSBoerhaavia diffusa is a well known green leafy vegetable plant, consumed by South Asian population due to its nutraceutical properties. This plant is one of the major ingredients of many herbal preparations for various disorders. But the scientific validation of the mechanism responsible for the nutraceutical properties of the plant is not fully done. So we made an attempt to evaluate the antioxidant potential of this plant, since oxidative stress play very important role in the etiology of many diseases. These results can be used to explain the beneficial effects and further application of this plant as a medicinal food against various disorders.

Excessive expansion of white adipose tissue leads to hypoxia which is considered as a key factor responsible for adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity. Hypoxia induces inflammation, insulin resistance, and other obesity related complications. So the hypoxia-signalling pathway is expected to provide a new target for the treatment of obesity-associated complications. Inhibition or downregulation of the HIF-1 pathway could be an effective target for the treatment of obesity related hypoxia. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of hypoxia on functions of 3T3-L1 adipocytes emphasising on oxidative stress, antioxidant status, inflammation and mitochondrial functions. We have also evaluated the protective role of bilobalide, a bioactive from Gingko biloba, on hypoxia induced alterations. The results revealed that hypoxia significantly altered all the vital parameters of adipocyte biology like HIF-1α expression (103.47% ↑), lactate and glycerol release (184.34% and 69.1% ↑, respectively), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (432.53% ↑), lipid and protein oxidation (376.6% and 566.6% ↑, respectively), reduction in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) status, secretion of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IFN-γ) and mitochondrial functions (mitochondrial mass, membrane potential, permeability transition pore integrity, superoxide generation). Bilobalide significantly protected adipocytes from adverse effects of hypoxia in a dose-dependent manner by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation and protecting mitochondria. Acriflavine (HIF-1 inhibitor) was used as positive control. On the basis of this study, a detailed investigation is needed to delineate the mechanism of action of bilobalide to develop it as therapeutic target for obesity.