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Diabetes-induced hyperglycemia leads to excessive production of oxygen free radicals, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress, which initiates diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Currently, this condition affects 20% of adults with diabetes. Despite significant advances in the treatment of diabetes, the incidence of its complications, including DPN, is still high. Thus, there is a growing research interest in developing more effective and treatment approaches with less side effects for diabetes and its complications. Nigella sativa L. (NS) has received much research attention as an antioxidant, anti-yperglycemic factor, and anti-inflammatory agent. This natural compound demonstrates its antidiabetic neuropathy effect through various pathways, including the reduction of lipid peroxidation, the enhancement of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity, and the decrease in inflammatory cytokine levels. The present review focuses on the bioactive and nutraceutical components of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and their effects on DPN. In addition, we have also summarized the findings obtained from several experimental and clinical studies regarding the antidiabetic neuropathy effect of NS in animal models and human subjects., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Nigella is one of the most studied plants because of its pharmacological properties like anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancerous. In this study, about 20 species of the genus Nigella were reviewed and among them, N. damascene, N. glandulifera, and N. sativa are widely studied for their phytochemical and pharmacological effects. This review describes the phytochemical composition of the genus Nigella, which constitutes many of the compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. The extracts produced by using different solvents and the isolated compounds displayed a wide range of biological activity. These compounds were identified by different spectral techniques. The spectral detail of some advanced techniques including EIS-MS, UV/VIS, IR, 13 C-NMR, and 1 H-NMR of some important phytoconstituents of Nigella spp. has been compiled for the first time in this review which will be helpful to explore and further investigate the chemical composition of this genus., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known global metabolic disorder. For its treatment, glibenclamide (GLB) is very often prescribed. However, herbal drugs are considered effective and better alternatives due to their low risk of side effects. This study was conducted to determine the combined effects of GLB and Pterocarpus marsupium (PM, a commonly available Indian herb) extract for the effective and safe treatment of hyperglycemia in the mouse model., Methods: Healthy adult male mice were distributed into five groups (n=7 in each group). Group I acted as the control, whereas groups II, III, IV, and V were considered experimental groups which received a single dosage (150 mg/kg body weight) of alloxan (ALX) intraperitoneally (i.p.). In addition, groups III, IV, and V received a pre-standardized dose of GLB (500 μg/kg body weight), PM extract (150 mg/kg body weight), and GLB+PM, respectively, at the same doses as used in individual treatment, after the seventh day of ALX administration for 15 days and the alterations in different DM related parameters were evaluated., Results: ALX-induced hyperglycemia and other adverse effects were nearly normalized by GLB and PM co-treatment as evidenced by marked suppression in glucose, triglyceride, total-cholesterol, lipid-peroxidation, and lipid-hydroperoxides with an increase in antioxidants status and liver glycogen content. The positive effects were more pronounced when both GLB and PM were given, as compared to that of either of the drugs, administered alone. Liver ultra-structure, analyzed through histology and transmission electron microscopy revealed normalization of the ALX-induced damaged hepatocytes. The presence of epicatechin, the major phytoconstituent of the PM extract, as confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is responsible for its antioxidative and glucose-lowering activities., Conclusion: These findings reveal that PM, along with GLB, exhibits synergistic and better effects than the individual drug in regulating hyperglycemia and associated changes in alloxan-induced mice., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)