Selected plant species from the Cree pharmacopoeia of northern Quebec possess anti-diabetic potential

Abstract

Type II diabetes is a major health problem worldwide. Some populations, such as aboriginal peoples, are particularly at risk for this disease. In the Cree Nation of Quebec, Canada, prevalence in adults is approaching 20%, and the consequences are compounded by low compliance with modern medicine. In 2003, we conducted an ethnobotanical study of Cree medicinal plants used for the treatment of symptoms of diabetes. This served as the basis for a project designed to identify efficacious complementary treatment options more readily accepted by this population. The present study assesses the in vitro anti-diabetic potential of extracts from the 8 most promising plants to emerge from the ethnobotanical study. Cell-based bioassays were employed to screen for (i) potentiation of glucose uptake by skeletal muscle cells (C2C12) and adipocytes (3T3-L1); (ii) potentiation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and insulin production by pancreatic beta cells (INS 832/13); (iii) potentiation of triglyceride accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells; (iv) protection against glucose toxicity and glucose deprivation in pre-sympathetic neurons (PC12-AC). Additionally, anti-oxidant activity was measured biochemically by the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reduction assay. All plant extracts potentiated basal or insulin-stimulated glucose uptake to some degree in muscle cells or adipocytes. Adipocyte differentiation was accelerated by 4 extracts. Five extracts conferred protection in PC12 cells. Three extracts displayed free radical scavenging activity similar to known anti-oxidants. None of the plant extracts enhanced GSIS or insulin content in INS 832/13 beta cells. It is concluded that the Cree pharmacopoeia contains several plants with significant anti-diabetic potential.

Inhibition of non‐enzymatic glycation by silk extracts from a Mexican land race and modern inbred lines of maize (Zea mays)

“…1 (not included in analysis). ated in the current study, our results indirectly support this claim since total phenolics, which has repeatedly been proven a good predictor of antioxidant capacity (Prior et al, 1998;Wang and Liu, 2000;Moyer et al, 2002;Spoor et al, 2006), was highly correlated with antiglycation activity. Though the modern resistant inbreds were the most effective inhibitors of glycation and the most phenolicrich of the tested genotypes, no clear relationship between resistance to fungal infection and antiglycation activity or total phenolics was observed (Tables 1 and 2).…”

Significance of diarylheptanoids for chemotaxonomical distinguishing between Alnus glutinosa and Alnus incana

“…japonica (Novaković et al 2014a), which may be significant for taxonomic considerations. Hydrophilic bark extractives of black and gray alder were found to exhibit antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antiadipogenic activities (Spoor et al 2006;Frédérich et al 2009;Martineau et al 2010;Stević et al 2010;Telysheva et al 2011;Dahija et al 2014). The main constituents of these extractives are diarylheptanoids and condensed tannins.…”

Non-wood Forest Products Based on Extractives- A New Opportunity for Canadian Forest Industry Part 2- Softwood Forest Species

“…Spoor et al (2006) investigated several species traditionally used by Cree First Nations to treat hyperglycemia (Spoor et al, 2006). The authors screened a series of polyphenolic extracts, looking for antidiabetic activity; their protocol consisted of extracting the inner bark tissue by macerating in ethanol; extraction yields reached 15.3% of the ground bark mass (dry basis).…”