Metabolic and molecular action of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) and trace metals in experimental diabetic tissues

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia resulting in defective insulin secretion, resistance to insulin action or both. The use of biguanides, sulphonylurea and other drugs are valuable in the treatment of diabetes mellitus; their use, however, is restricted by their limited action, pharmacokinetic properties, secondary failure rates and side effects. Trigonella foenum-graecum, commonly known as fenugreek, is a plant that has been extensively used as a source of antidiabetic compounds from its seeds and leaf extracts. Preliminary human trials and animal experiments suggest possible hypoglycaemic and antihyperlipedemic properties of fenugreek seed powder taken orally. Our results show that the action of fenugreek in lowering blood glucose levels is almost comparable to the effect of insulin. Combination with trace metal showed that vanadium had additive effects and manganese had additive effects with insulin on in vitro system in control and diabetic animals of young and old ages using adipose tissue. The Trigonella and vanadium effects were studied in a number of tissues including liver, kidney, brain peripheral nerve, heart, red blood cells and skeletal muscle. Addition of Trigonella to vanadium significantly removed the toxicity of vanadium when used to reduce blood glucose levels. Administration of the various combinations of the antidiabetic compounds to diabetic animals was found to reverse most of the diabetic effects studied at physiological, biochemical, histochemical and molecular levels. Results of the key enzymes of metabolic pathways have been summarized together with glucose transporter, Glut-4 and insulin levels. Our findings illustrate and elucidate the antidiabetic/insulin mimetic effects of Trigonella, manganese and vanadium.

Antidiabetic and Neuroprotective Effects of Trigonella Foenum-graecum Seed Powder in Diabetic Rat Brain

“…Hyperglycemia during diabetes has been shown to generate free radicals, increase damage to membranes and decrease antioxidant status (Kumar and Menon, 1993;Preet et al, 2005). Present results showed that three weeks treatment of the diabetic group with insulin, and TSP separately resulted in a marked reduction in hyperglycemia in the diabetic animals (Mohammad et al, 2006;Baquer et al, 2011;Kumar et al, 2011b, c). Na + K + ATPase and Ca 2+ ATPase play a role in the fine tuning of neuron functions which are decreased in diabetes due to oxidative stress and membrane damages (Pekiner et al, 2005;Kamboj et al, 2009).…”

“…The plant material was identified in the literature of Ayurveda and by local experts of herbal gardens and further taxonomically validated. The most effective dose of 5% TSP in the diet has been determined in previous studies (Raju et al, 2001;Mohammad et al, 2006;Baquer et al, 2011;Kumar et al, 2011b, c).…”

“…(Leguminosae) commonly known as fenugreek, is an annual herb, widely grown in India, Egypt, and Middle Eastern countries (Alarcon-Aguilara et al, 1998). It has been extensively used as a source of antidiabetic compound, from its seeds, leaves and extracts in different model systems (Srinivasan, 2006;Losso et al, 2009;Baquer et al, 2011). Preliminary animal and human trials suggest possible hypoglycemic and anti hyperlipidemic properties of oral TSP on type-1 and type-2 DM patients and experimental diabetic animals (Mohammad et al, 2006;Hannan et al, 2007;Yadav et al, 2010).…”

“…Lipid peroxidation of the neuronal membrane causes loss of membrane fluidity and inhibition of membrane linked enzymes, increased neurolipofuscin deposition leading to diminished neurotransmitter uptake and loss of membrane asymmetry (Kamboj et al, 2009;Baquer et al, 2011). Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that oral administration of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder to diabetic animals can lower blood glucose levels and partially restore the activities of key enzymes of carbohydrates and lipid metabolism to near normal levels in various animal models of diabetes (Raju et al, 2001;Preet et al, 2005;Mohammad et al, 2006;Baquer et al, 2011;Kumar et al, 2011b, c).…”

Regulation of hepatic and mucosal 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase activity by trigonella foenum-graecum linn (fenugreek) seeds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Therefore, there is a possibility that fenugreek seed extract may bring about some of its effects through increasing the expression of glucose transporter especially GLUT4 as previously reported [31].…”