In vitro model using cytokine cocktail to evaluate apoptosis in Min6 pancreatic beta cells.

Introduction: Development of therapy options for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus is hampered by non-availability of appropriate experimental models that can exactly mimic the in vivo situation. Apoptosis of beta cells by T cells and cytokine action leads to loss of beta cells. We propose a simple and elegant model using cytokine cocktail of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β, the major cytokines responsible for apoptosis in Min6 beta cell line.

Inhibition of GLUT2 transporter by geraniol from Cymbopogon martinii: a novel treatment for diabetes mellitus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objective: To isolate and identify the bioactive component from Cymbopogon martinii having GLUT2 transporter inhibitory activity - towards development of a novel strategy for treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Method: Isolation of bioactive component was carried out using differential solvent extraction, HPTLC and HPLC, and identification was done by GC-MS. In-vitro studies on intestine, liver, kidney and in-vivo assessment by OGTT and long-term treatment on diabetic rats were carried out.

Acceleration of protein glycation by oxidative stress and comparative role of antioxidant and protein glycation inhibitor.

Hyperglycemia in diabetes causes protein glycation that leads to oxidative stress, release of cytokines, and establishment of secondary complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy. Several other metabolic disorders, stress, and inflammation generate free radicals and oxidative stress. It is essential to study whether oxidative stress independently enhances protein glycation leading to rapid establishment of secondary complications.

Early metabolic changes in the gut leads to higher expression of intestinal alpha glucosidase and thereby causes enhanced postprandial spikes.

Aims: Prediabetes manifests several years earlier, before it progresses to diabetes. It is essential to track the earliest metabolic changes occurring in the prediabetic state and to understand the precise mechanism of how diabetes is initiated.

Main Methods: Alpha glucosidase was isolated from rat intestine and assayed using maltose as substrate.

Biofilm inhibition mechanism from extract of Hymenocallis littoralis leaves.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb. has been referred as beach spider lily and commonly known for its rich phytochemical diversity.

Effective inhibition of protein glycation by combinatorial usage of limonene and aminoguanidine through differential and synergistic mechanisms.

Protein glycation is a major mechanism for establishing secondary complication in diabetes mellitus. Effective inhibition of this process can prevent progression of the disorder into secondary complications. Aminoguanidine (AMG) and limonene (LM) are known protein glycation inhibitors.

Strong inhibition of the polyol pathway diverts glucose flux to protein glycation leading to rapid establishment of secondary complications in diabetes mellitus.

Background: Polyol pathway and protein glycation are implicated in establishing secondary complications in diabetes. Their relative contribution to the process needs to be evaluated. It is essential to understand why some aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) trials are successful while some have failed and to study their effect on protein glycation.

A novel mechanism for antiglycative action of limonene through stabilization of protein conformation.

Inhibition of protein glycation is known to ameliorate secondary complications in diabetes. In the present study antiglycative properties of limonene, a natural product, were evaluated using BSA as a model protein. AMG (aminoguanidine) was used as a positive control.

Antidiabetic activity of Kalanchoe pinnata in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by glucose independent insulin secretagogue action.

Context: Kalanchoe pinnata Lam. (Crassulaceae) is used as a traditional medicine worldwide to treat several ailments, including diabetes. However, the mechanism for the antihyperglycemic action is unknown.

Aegle marmelos Correa leaf extract prevents secondary complications in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and demonstration of limonene as a potent antiglycating agent.

Objectives: To study the antiglycating, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of Aegle marmelos Correa leaf extract and identify the bioactive constituent.

Methods: The effect of the chloroform extract of Aegle marmelos Correa was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through evaluation of biochemical parameters. Antiglycation activity was assessed in vitro through measurement of total and specific advanced glycation end products, protein carbonyl formation and collagen solubility tests.

Insulinotropic and β-cell protective action of cuminaldehyde, cuminol and an inhibitor isolated from Cuminum cyminum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Cuminum cyminum, a commonly used spice, is known to have anti-diabetic action. The present study aims towards the isolation of bioactive components from C. cyminum and the evaluation of their insulin secretagogue potential with the probable mechanism and β-cell protective action.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of Santalum album in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Context: Santalum album Linn (Santalaceae), commonly known as Sandalwood is used traditionally for its antihyperlipidemic and diuretic activity.

Objective: This study investigated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of long-term oral administration of the Santalum album pet ether fraction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 70 mg/kg body weight.

Insulin secretagogue, alpha-glucosidase and antioxidant activity of some selected spices in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Spices are extensively used to enhance the taste and flavor of foods and are known to possess several medicinal properties. Myristica fragrans, Parmelia perlata, Illicium verum, Trachyspermum copticum and Myristica malabarica, the commonly used spices in India were assessed for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. In the in vitro insulin secretion studies on isolated islets of Langerhans, M.

Improvement of ethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae by enhancement of biomass and nutrient supplementation.

Optimization of ethanol production through addition of substratum and protein-lipid additives was studied. Oilseed meal extract was used as protein lipid supplement, while rice husk was used as substratum. The effect of oil seed meal extract and rice husk was observed at varying concentration of medium sugar from 8% to 20%.

Alpha glucosidase inhibition by stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia.

Inhibitors of alpha glucosidase have potential use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia was evaluated for inhibition of the enzyme. The extract was also found to inhibit the salivary and pancreatic amylase and therefore can effectively reduce an increase in postprandial glucose level.

Availability of substratum enhances ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Novel additives that act as substratum for attachment of the yeast cells, increased ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The addition of 2 g rice husk, straw, wood shavings, plastic pieces or silica gel to 100 ml medium enhanced ethanol production by 30-40 (v/v). Six distillery strains showed an average enhancement of 34 from 4.

Glycogen--a covalently linked component of the cell wall in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Glycogen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is present in two pools, one soluble and intracellular, the other present in the cell wall and rendered water-insoluble owing to its covalent linkage to cell wall beta-glucan. The insoluble glycogen fraction was solubilized using beta-1,3-glucanase. The alpha beta-glucan complex obtained showed intense red staining with iodine and was isolated from free beta-glucans by affinity chromatography using concanavalin A sepharose 4B.