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Free radicals are produced in diabetes mellitus (DM), due to protein glycosylation and glucose autooxidation. However, plant compounds have been proven to be effective in managing DM and related conditions. This study evaluated the antioxidant effect of verbenone and L-arginine in diabetic mice. DM was induced in mice by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 60 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin and 120 mg/kg body weight of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). The diabetic mice were treated afterwards with verbenone, L-arginine, and their ratios at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 14 days respectively. In the in vitro study, L-arginine expressed higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, while verbenone and L-arginine expressed higher nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activities, especially at higher concentrations when compared with vitamin C. At the end of the treatment period, the levels of blood glucose, total protein, and malondialdehyde were significantly increased while the levels of reduced glutathione, nitrite, and activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased in the diabetic untreated mice. However, these diabetes-induced alterations were reversed to normal levels after the administration of verbenone, L-arginine, and their ratio combinations at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Furthermore, in silico studies revealed the antioxidant potential of both verbenone and L-arginine by their interaction with antioxidant proteins, expressing their potential antioxidant properties. The results of the study indicated that verbenone, L-arginine, and their ratio combination possess antioxidant properties and attenuate oxidative stress in diabetic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free radicals are unstable species that are formed from cellular metabolic processes and a certain concentration of these unstable and reactive species confers acceptable effects on the immune activities in biological systems. These free radicals can become harmful to the cell when their levels exceed that of the cellular antioxidant system, in a process known as oxidative stress. Fruits and vegetables are used for nutritional purposes and as therapeutics to treat several diseases and ailments due to the presence of natural products in these food items. Inadequate dietary manners and lifestyles are linked to oxidative stress and can stimulate a disparity between the antioxidant defense system and the production of reactive radicals in the body. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the consumption of plants and their parts with high contents of natural antioxidants. People consume fruits due to the presence of reactive radicals scavenging and health-promoting bioactive compounds. They also contain both micro- and macronutrients and fibers, in addition to secondary metabolites which make them unique as a source of antioxidants. Africa is a region with a wide range of different fruits such as African custard-apple (Annona senegalensis Pers), Guava (Psidium guajava L.), Pawpaw (Carica papaya), Prickly Pears (Opuntia spp), Longkong (Lansium domesticum Corr.), Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), Rambutan fruit (Nephelium lappaceum L.) among others. These fruits serve as a reservoir for natural antioxidants such as phenolics, flavonoids, stilbenoids, tannins, and terpenoids, among others that could play an essential role in treating and managing several oxidative stress-related diseases and the synthesis of plant-based drugs. Fruit-based antioxidants exert their action through suppression and inhibition of free radical generation, prevention of lipid peroxidation, chelating action, and others. Accordingly, this review summarizes the literature that deals with various fruits from Africa as potential sources of natural antioxidants and their role in the management of diseases related to oxidative stress. [Display omitted] • Increasing interest in the consumption of plants with high contents of natural antioxidants. • Africa is a region with a wide range of different fruits with multiple pharmacological potential. • This review summarizes the literature that deals with various fruits from Africa. • Natural antioxidants and their role in the management of oxidative stress are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation on medicinal plants' therapeutic potential has gained substantial importance in the discovery of novel effective and safe therapeutic agents. The present study is aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective potential of Seriphidium kurramense methanolic extract (SKM) against carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. S. kurramense is one of the most imperative plants for its various pharmacological activities. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective potential against CCl4-induced liver toxicity. The serum samples were analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) together with the oxidative stress mediator levels as nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as peroxidation and H2O2 activity. CCl4 administration resulted in an elevated free radical generation, altered liver marker (AST and ALT) enzymes, reduced antioxidant enzyme, and increased DNA damage. Methanolic extract of S. kurramense decreased CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by increasing the antioxidant status and reducing H2O2 and nitrate content generation as well as reducing DNA damage. Additionally, SKM reversed the morphological alterations induced by CCl4 in the SKM-treated groups. These results demonstrated that SKM displayed hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in experimental rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]