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Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia causing mitochondrial dysfunction and kidney iron overload has been observed during diabetes. We evaluated the effects of an iron-restricted diet (IRD) on mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial iron levels in the kidneys of Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. IRD ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic rats by restoring mitochondrial respiration and respiratory complex activity, improving oxidative stress and glutathione status in kidney mitochondria. We also observed mitochondrial iron overload. Our data suggest that elevated iron levels were attenuated by IRD, resulting in modulation of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in the kidney.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heterogeneous set of multifactorial pathogenesis syndrome where the common nexus is metabolic disorder, mainly chronic hyperglycemia and alterations in lipid and protein metabolism. The effects of DM, include long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs. It especially affects eyes, kidneys, muscle, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. The primary goal of diabetes treatment is the prevention of macrovascular complications (e.g., myocardial infarction, heart failure, and ischemic stroke) as well as the microvascular complications (e.g., retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy). Abnormalities in mitochondrial function are common in the pathophysiology of diabetes that include modifications in the redox state and oxidative and nitrosative stress, as well dysregulation of mitochondrial complex activities. Oxidative stress is a factor that contributes to the development of complications in diabetes; however, its effects can be counteracted using exogenous antioxidants that are found in some plants, which is why people turn to traditional medicines in the search for therapeutic treatment. Identification of major compounds in extracts of medicinal plants can contribute to ameliorate hyperglycemia and oxidative stress due to exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes. The growing need to find alternatives for the treatment of diabetes justifies the study of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine. In this study, we aimed to review information related to possible treatments with bioactive compounds from medicinal plants on diabetes that affect several organs, including liver, heart, brain, muscle, and kidney with exacerbated oxidative stress originated mainly in mitochondria.

Gestational diabetes (GD) has been linked with an increased risk of developing metabolic disorders and behavioral abnormalities in the offspring. Oxidative stress is strongly associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive disruption. In the offspring brains in a GD experimental rat model, increased oxidative stress in the prenatal and postnatal stages was reported. However, long-term alterations to offspring behavior and oxidative stress, caused by changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of GD on young and adult male and female rat offspring in metabolic parameters, cognitive behavior, and oxidative stress. GD was induced using streptozotocin in dams. Next, the offspring were evaluated at two and six months of age. Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated using the elevated plus maze and open field maze, spatial learning and short-term memory were evaluated using the Morris water maze and radial maze, respectively. We determined oxidative stress biomarkers (reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and glutathione status) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in the brain of offspring. We observed that male GD offspring showed a reduced level of anxiety at both ages as they spent less time in the closed arms of the elevated plus maze at adult age ((P = 0.019, d = 1.083 ( size effect)) and spent more time in the open area of an open field (P = 0.0412, d = 0.743) when young and adult age (P = 0.018, d = 0.65). Adult female GD offspring showed a reduced level of anxiety (P = 0.036, d = 0.966), and young female GD offspring showed a deficiency in spatial learning (P = 0.0291 vs. control, d = 3.207). Adult male GD offspring showed a deficiency in short-term memory (P = 0.017, d = 1.795). We found an increase in ROS and lipid peroxidation, a disruption in the glutathione status, and decreased activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (P &lt, 0.05 vs. control, d &gt, 1.0), in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of male and female GD offspring. GD altered metabolism, male offspring of both ages and adult females showed a high level of triglycerides and a lower level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P &lt, 1.0). Young and adult female offspring displayed higher insulin levels (P &lt, 0.05, d &gt, 1.0). These results suggest that gestational diabetes modifies oxidative stress and cognitive behavior in an age- and sex-dependent manner.

In the present study, we investigated the composition and antioxidant activity of the hexanic extract of Eryngium carlinae inflorescences by employing in vitro assays to measure antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity. We also applied the hexanic extract to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, under hydrogen peroxide-induced stress. Finally, we tested the extract in male Wistar rats with and without streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The compounds in the hexanic extract were analyzed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry, which revealed mainly terpenes and sesquiterpenes, including (Z)&beta, farnesene (38.79%), &beta, pinene (17.53%), calamene (13.3%), and &alpha, farnesene (10.38%). In vitro and in S. cerevisiae, the extract possessed antioxidant activity at different concentrations, compared to ascorbic acid (positive control). In normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats, oral administration of 30 mg/kg of the extract reduced blood glucose levels, lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney and brain, protein carbonylation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. It also increased catalase activity in the brain, kidneys and liver. These findings show that this hexanic extract of E. carlinae inflorescences possessed antioxidant properties.

Gestational diabetes (GD) has a negative impact on neurodevelopment, resulting in cognitive and neurological deficiencies. Oxidative stress (OS) has been reported in the brain of the first-generation offspring of GD rats. OS has been strongly associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we determined the effect of GD on the cognitive behavior, oxidative stress and metabolism of second-generation offspring. GD was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) in pregnant rats to obtain first-generation offspring (F1), next female F1 rats were mated with control males to obtain second-generation offspring (F2). Two and six-month-old F2 males and females were employed. Anxious-type behavior, spatial learning and spatial working memory were evaluated. In cerebral cortex and hippocampus, the oxidative stress and serum biochemical parameters were measured. Male F2 GD offspring presented the highest level of anxiety-type behavior, whilst females had the lowest level of anxiety-type behavior at juvenile age. In short-term memory, adult females presented deficiencies. The offspring F2 GD females presented modifications in oxidative stress biomarkers in the cerebral cortex as lipid-peroxidation, oxidized glutathione and catalase activity. We also observed metabolic disturbances, particularly in the lipid and insulin levels of male and female F2 GD offspring. Our results suggest a transgenerational effect of GD on metabolism, anxiety-like behavior, and spatial working memory.

Metabolic diseases have increased considerably such as diabetes mellitus (DM). Since diabetes is a systemic disease, it implies high cardiovascular risks. It has been widely established that cardiac injury is related to mitochondrial dysfunction through increment of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Synthetic antioxidants can have important side effects; therefore natural sources may represent a better option. Traditional Mexican medicine has been using Eryngium carlinae (EC) for medical treatment. Also our group showed that hexanic extract possesses in vitro antioxidant capacity. Experimental diabetes in Wistar rats was generated by streptozotocin (STZ) and hexanic extract of EC was supplied for 7 weeks (30 mg/kg). Cholesterol, triacylglycerides, glucose, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were determined in serum. Mitochondria from left ventricle were used in the quantification of TBARS, reduced glutathione, nitric oxide (NO) levels and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme was performed. Biochemical parameters of glucose and triacylglycerides, as well as TBARS levels in serum show a significant reduction in diabetic group supplied with EC hexanic extract. Thus, we can conclude that the EC hexanic extract possesses antioxidant activity in vitro, and in vivo, by reducing glucose and triacylglycerides levels during hyperglycemia, which may eventually reduce the risk of developing diabetic cardiomyopathy.