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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a long-life disease with periods of recurrence and relief. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Recent years' studies in the field of IBD treatment mostly have focused on targeting cytokines and immune cell trafficking using antibodies and inhibitors, altering the composition of intestinal bacteria in the line of attenuation of inflammation using probiotics and prebiotics, and attenuating oxidative stress through antioxidant supplementation. Studies in animal models of IBD have shown that some polyphenolic compounds including curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, naringenin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate can affect almost all of the above aspects and are useful compounds in the treatment of IBD. Clinical studies performed on IBD patients have also confirmed the findings of animal model studies and have shown that supplementation with some of the above-mentioned polyphenolic compounds has positive effects in reducing disease clinical and endoscopic activity, inducing and maintaining remission, and improving quality of life. In this review article, in addition to a detailed reviewing the effects of the above-mentioned polyphenolic compounds on the events involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, the results of these clinical studies will also be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various studies, especially in recent years, have shown that quercetin has beneficial therapeutic effects in various human diseases, including diabetes. Quercetin has significant anti-diabetic effects and may be helpful in lowering blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity. Quercetin appears to affect many factors and signaling pathways involved in insulin resistance and the pathogenesis of type 2 of diabetes. TNFα, NFKB, AMPK, AKT, and NRF2 are among the factors that are affected by quercetin. In addition, quercetin can be effective in preventing and ameliorating the diabetic complications, including diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular complications, neuropathy, delayed wound healing, and retinopathy, and affects the key mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these complications. These positive effects of quercetin may be related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. In this article, after a brief review of the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, we will review the latest findings on the anti-diabetic effects of quercetin with a molecular perspective. Then we will review the effects of quercetin on the key mechanisms of pathogenesis of diabetes complications including nephropathy, cardiovascular complications, neuropathy, delayed wound healing, and retinopathy. Finally, clinical trials investigating the effect of quercetin on diabetes and diabetes complications will be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Atorvastatin hinders cardiovascular disease by reducing cholesterol levels. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) enhances the secretion of insulin by binding to LDL-receptor. Sortilin is committed in the transfer of intracellular proteins through the plasma membrane. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of atorvastatin consumption on alterations in the levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA-R), PCSK9 and sortilin in diabetic patients and pre-diabetics. Patients and Methods: This study was carried out on 80 individuals including normal subjects, diabetic patients and pre-diabetics. The participated individuals were divided as control group (i) (healthy individuals without diabetes mellitus), diabetic group receiving statin (ii), diabetic group not receiving statin (iii), pre-diabetic group receiving statin (iv) and pre-diabetic group not receiving statin (v). Levels of HMG-COA-R, PCSK9 and sortilin were determined by ELISA method. Results: In diabetics and pre-diabetics taking atorvastatin, the level of HMG-COA-R was not altered significantly compared to diabetics and pre-diabetics not taking atorvastatin, respectively (P > 0.05). The serum PCSK9 level in diabetics and pre-diabetics was significantly higher than the healthy individuals (P = 0.001). Additionally, the serum PCSK9 level in diabetics and pre-diabetics receiving atorvastatin was significantly higher than diabetics and pre-diabetics not receiving atorvastatin, respectively (P = 0.001). The serum sortilin level in diabetics and pre-diabetics was significantly higher than the healthy individuals (P = 0.001). In addition, the serum sortilin level in pre-diabetics receiving atorvastatin was significantly higher than pre-diabetics not receiving atorvastatin (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Atorvastatin improved insulin secretion and sensitivity by increasing serum sortilin and PCSK9 levels. Thereby, it prevented the development of diabetes in diabetics and the progression of pre-diabetes to diabetes in pre-diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibition of α-glucosidase and antioxidant properties of different tissues of sea urchin Echinometra mathaei. Methods: α-glucosidase inhibition was determined using p-Nitrophenyl-a-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate, and the antioxidant properties were evaluated by 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS),1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and nitric oxide radicals scavenging. Also, antioxidant potential was evaluated by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Results: Among the studied tissues, the highest α-glucosidase inhibition was revealed by the ethyl acetate extract of the shell and Aristotle’s lantern (IC50= 3.7 and 4 mg/mL, respectively). Shell had the highest ABTS (IC50= 183) and DPPH (IC50= 208 μg/mL) radicals scavenging, respectively. And, gonad had the highest antioxidant potential by the FRAP method (1140 μg ASA/mg) and NO radical scavenging (70.68%), respectively. Conclusion: Antidiabetic potentials of the ethyl acetate extracts of sea urchin tissues suggest that these extracts can be used as antidiabetic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Medicinal plants are used in diabetes treatment. Salvia mirzayanii Rech. F& Esfand was used for diabetes treatment in Iranian traditional medicine. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extract of S. mirzayanii in diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: In the present randomized controlled trial study, the patients were divided into trial (n=27) and control (n=25) groups. The trial group received daily one capsule containing 450 mg of aqueous extract of Salvia mirzayanii; the control group received daily one capsule containing 450 mg of caramelized flour and 5% aqueous extract of S. mirzayanii. Fasting blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after 3 months, fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1C, insulin, HOMAIR index, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lipid profile were evaluated. Results: Types of used drugs, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different between trial and control groups before treatment. Additionally, after treatment, BMI did not significantly change between these two mentioned groups. The results showed that FBS and HbA1C levels did not change significantly in the trial group after treatment; however, in this group, insulin secretion was increased significantly (P = 0.015). Nevertheless; after treatment, HOMA-IR index did not significantly change between the two mentioned groups. In the trial group, after treatment, liver enzymes (ALT and AST) levels did not change significantly. After the treatment, LDL-C was changed in the trial group. Conclusion: The herbal drug used in the present study enhanced insulin secretion, and improved LDL-C level in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disorder, is caused by a dysregulated and aberrant immune response to exposed environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite huge efforts in determining the molecular pathogenesis of IBD, an increasing worldwide incidence of IBD has been reported. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a set of noncoding RNA molecules that are about 22 nucleotides long, and these molecules are involved in the regulation of the gene expression. By clarifying the important role of miRNAs in a number of diseases, their role was also considered in IBD; numerous studies have been performed on this topic. In this review, we attempt to summarize a number of studies and discuss some of the recent developments in the roles of miRNAs in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of IBD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a set of noncoding RNA molecules that are involved in the regulation of the gene expression. We discussed the critical roles of some miRNAs in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): One strategy for the treatment of diabetes is inhibition of pancreatic α- amylase. Plants contains different chemical constituents with potential for inhibition of α-amylase and hence maybe used as therapeutic. Materials and Methods: Urtica dioica and Juglans regia Linn were tested for α-amylase inhibition. Different concentrations of leaf aqueous extracts were incubated with enzyme substrate solution and the activity of enzyme was measured. For determination of the type of inhibition, Dixon plot was depicted. Acarbose was used as the standard inhibitor. Results: Both plant extracts showed time and concentration dependent inhibition of α-amylase. 60% inhibition was seen with 2 mg/ml of U. dioica and 0.4 mg/ml of J. regia aqueous extract. Dixon plots revealed the type of α-amylase inhibition by these two extracts as competitive inhibition. Conclusion: Determination of the type of α-amylase inhibition by these plant extracts could provide by successful use of plant chemicals as drug targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia mirzayani Rech (Labiatae) (SM) is a medicinal plant that is used for diabetes in local medicine. In this research, the free radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and inhibition of β-carotene peroxidation of an ethanol extract of SM was investigated. In addition, we examined the effect of this extract on hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in nonimmortalized fibroblast. This extract has free radical scavenging capacity and reducing power and prevented β-carotene peroxidation. These results were confirmed by a protective effect on H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in human nonimmortalized fibroblasts. Moreover, this experimental evidence suggests that because of antioxidant activity, this extract may be useful in the treatment of human pathologies in which free radical production plays a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]