Polymatin A from Smallanthus macroscyphus leaves: A safe and promising antidiabetic compound.

Smallanthus macroscyphus is an herb native to South America whose leaves are a source of antidiabetic compounds, although complete information about their safe use is not available yet. This study was developed to evaluate the toxicity profile of both 10% decoction and the sesquiterpene lactone polymatin A from S. macroscyphus leaves through in vitro cytotoxicity assays and in vivo subchronic oral toxicity.

Yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius) improve oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

Context: Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H.

Hepatic fibrogenesis and transforming growth factor/Smad signaling activation in rats chronically exposed to low doses of lead.

Lead is an important heavy metal pollutant in the environment. The nervous system, kidney and liver are the most susceptible organs to lead deposition, showing that this pollutant has no single target system. To examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in their pathobiology of chronic lead at low-dose exposure in the liver, male Wistar rats were exposed to 0.

Smallanthus macroscyphus: a new source of antidiabetic compounds.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the in vivo hypoglycaemic effects of both decoction of Smallanthus macroscyphus leaves and pure crystalline polymatin A isolated from its leaves. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf decoction showed that its major constituents were caffeic, chlorogenic and three dicaffeoilquinic acids, together with the sesquiterpene lactone polymatin A. Oral glucose tolerance test in normal rats was performed to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity and to choose the minimum effective dose of the decoction and polymatin A.

Safety assessment of aqueous extract from leaf Smallanthus sonchifolius and its main active lactone, enhydrin.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H.

Protective effect of yacon leaves decoction against early nephropathy in experimental diabetic rats.

Nephropathy is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Prevention of this complication has a major relevance. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) leaves have been shown to ameliorate hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Hypolipidemic effect of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) roots on diabetic rats: biochemical approach.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are sugars found naturally at high concentrations in the storage roots of yacon. This study was designed to analyze the beneficial effects of subchronic oral consumption of yacon root flour as a diet supplement in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. The experiments were carried out using yacon flour tablets containing the desired level of FOS (340 or 6800mg FOS/kg body weight/day).

Neuronal loss and abnormal BMP/Smad signaling in the myenteric plexus of diabetic rats.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are critical molecules during gut morphogenesis. However, little is known about their participation in the homeostasis of adult gut and their possible role in diseases. Gastrointestinal complications occur during diabetes with loss of enteric neurons.

Hypoglycemic activity of leaf organic extracts from Smallanthus sonchifolius: Constituents of the most active fractions.

The aim of the present study was to determine the in vivo hypoglycemic activity of five organic extracts and enhydrin obtained from yacon leaves. The main constituents of the most active fraction were identified. Five organic extracts and pure crystalline enhydrin were administered to normoglycemic, transiently hyperglycemic and streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats.

Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans.

Background & Aims: Syrup obtained from yacon roots could be well positioned as a nutraceutical product due to its high fructooligosaccharides content. We examined the beneficial effects and tolerance of yacon syrup on human health.

Methods: Obese and slightly dyslipidemic pre-menopausal women were studied over a 120-day period in a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment.

Vitamin A deficiency injures liver parenchyma and alters the expression of hepatic extracellular matrix.

Vitamin A is an essential lipid-soluble nutrient that is crucial for morphogenesis and adult tissue maintenance. The retinoid homeostasis in the liver depends on a regular supply of vitamin A from an adequate dietary intake to preserve the normal organ structure and functions. This study focuses on the effect of vitamin A deficiency on the morphology and extracellular proteins expression of the liver in adult Wistar rats.

Renal gangliosides are involved in lead intoxication.

The biological effects of lead are well defined; however, neither the risk exposure level nor the subcellular mechanism of its action is completely clear. The present work was undertaken to investigate the effects of low level and long term lead exposure on the composition and expression of rat renal gangliosides. In order to identify ganglioside expression, frozen sections of kidneys were stained with monoclonal antibodies GMB16 (GM1 specific), GM28 (GM2 specific), AMR-10 (GM4 specific) and CDW 60 (9-O-Ac-GD3 specific).

Subchronic 4-month oral toxicity study of dried Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) roots as a diet supplement in rats.

Yacon roots are a rich source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and have a long use tradition as food in the Andean region. However, there are no published reports regarding their toxicology and use safety. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of subchronic (4-months) oral consumption of dried yacon root flour as a diet supplement using normal Wistar rats.

Antibacterial activity of lactose-binding lectins from Bufo arenarum skin.

Amphibians respond to microbial infection through cellular and humoral defense mechanisms such as antimicrobial protein secretion. Most humoral defense proteins are synthetized in the skin. In this study we isolated two beta-galactoside-binding lectins with molecular weights of 50 and 56 KDa from the skin of Bufo arenarum.

Immunohistochemical detection of hepatic GM1 and GM2 gangliosides in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

This study was undertaken to investigate the consequences of diabetes on the expression of GM1 and GM2 gangliosides in rat liver. Experimental diabetes was induced by treatment with Streptozotocin (STZ) in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of total ganglioside preparations of liver tissues from STZ-induced diabetic rats showed an increased amount of GM1, while GM2 could not be detected.

Ultrastructural characteristics of the follicle cell-oocyte interface in the oogenesis of Ceratophrys cranwelli.

In this work we carried out an ultrastructural analysis of the cell interface between oocyte and follicle cells during the oogenesis of the amphibian Ceratophrys cranwelli, which revealed a complex cell-cell interaction. In the early previtellogenic follicles, the plasma membrane of the follicle cells lies in close contact with the plasma membrane of the oocyte, with no interface between them. In the mid-previtellogenic follicles the follicle cells became more active and their cytoplasm has vesicles containing granular material.