Editorial

A Context of Translational Science Researc

Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Perspectives and Challenges

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is associated with elevated blood glucose level, abnormal abdominal fat deposition, insulin resistance and a number of complications including embryopathy, cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, neuropathy, microangiopathy and retinopathy. Complications extending to the central nervous system may have a deteriorating effect on mental health including a decline in cognitive functioning. This could be a reason for depression, lack of compliance towards medication/treatment, and the inability of patients to meet the day-to-day management demands of the disease. Due to the high metabolic demand for energy in the brain, perturbations in glucose metabolism can noticeably impact cognitive performance. This review discusses and enlightens on the factors contributing to cognitive impairment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. An understanding of the mechanisms of diabetes‐related cognitive impairment and the resulting behaviors of patients can help healthcare professionals implement treatments to significantly improve health status and quality of life of patients with diabetes

In vitro cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of the Mauritian marine sponge Neopetrosia exigua

Marine sponges belonging to the genus Neopetrosia represent a quasi-inexhaustible source of novel cytotoxic compounds. Yet studies delineating their molecular mechanisms of action in cancer cells remain scarce. We investigated the cytotoxic and apoptosis inducing potential of the Mauritian marine sponge Neopetrosia exigua derived crude extract, hexane and ethyl acetate fraction. Their cytotoxic activity was screened against four cancer cell lines and two non-malignant cell lines via the Alamar Blue metabolic assay. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and superoxide dismutase) and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined. The ability of the active extract to induce apoptosis in cancer cells and modulate the expression levels of apoptotic markers (caspases and polyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP)) was further evaluated via western blot. The ethyl acetate fraction (NEEAF) displayed the highest inhibitory effect with an IC50 of 6.87 μg/mL against the liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). Mechanistically, NEEAF induced morphological hallmarks characteristic of apoptosis, increased ROS production, decreased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity and mitochondrial membrane depolarisation in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the control (p<0.05). In addition, NEEAF induced the activation of caspase-9, -7, -3 and cleavage of PARP. Overall, this study provides biochemical evidence for oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HepG2 cells by NEEAF. Further in-depth investigations are needed to isolate the active constituents, which may potentially lead to the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. Significance: • Marine sponges represent an untapped goldmine of structurally unique compounds with interesting anticancer properties. • This important initial investigative work will set the stage for more in-depth mechanistic studies and chemical characterisation of potentially novel bioactive compounds from the genus Neopetrosia. • This work will also help to strengthen frameworks oriented towards the conservation of Neopetrosia species in the Western Indian Ocean region

In vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and epigenetic screening of crude extract and fractions of the marine sponge Neopetrosia exigua from Mauritius waters

DATA AVAILABILITY : All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information file].The marine sponge Neopetrosia exigua is known as a goldmine of novel compounds, yet its pharmacological activities remain poorly characterised. Herein, this study investigates the bioactivities of N. exigua collected from Mauritius waters. The crude extract (dichloromethane: methanol), hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions obtained from N. exigua were subjected to in vitro antioxidant assays. Their antibacterial activities were evaluated using the broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The cytotoxic and epigenetic activities were further screened using the MTT assay and a cell-based image system that measures de-repression of a silenced Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) reporter gene, respectively. Higher antioxidant activity was recorded for the ethyl acetate fraction as demonstrated by its significant ferric reducing antioxidant power, radical scavenging, and metal chelating activities relative to control (p < 0.05). The best antibacterial profile was presented by the ethyl acetate fraction against Cutibacterium acnes (MIC: 0.039 mg/ml), Streptococcus mutans (MIC: 0.078 mg/ml) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC: 0.313 mg/ml). Similarly, the fraction displayed significant cytotoxicity against the human liposarcoma SW872 cells with IC50 value of 44.34 ± 2.64 μg/ml and GFP re-activation capacity of 43.79 ± 3.19% (p < 0.05). This work conveys interesting data on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties of N. exigua. In particular, this study indicates the promising potential of N. exigua as a reservoir of epigenetically active agents that can modulate transcription of silenced genes involved in carcinogenesis. Hence, further investigations to isolate the active constituents is actively warranted.The Mauritius Research and Innovation Council under the National Research and Innovation Chair Program, the African German Network of Excellence in Science for Junior researchers Mobility Grant 2017 and the North-South Interdisciplinary Grant of the Global Young Academy.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/sciafam2024Plant Production and Soil ScienceSDG-14:Life below wate

Mauritian Endemic Medicinal Plant Extracts Induce G2/M Phase Cell Cycle Arrest and Growth Inhibition of Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Vitro

Terrestrial plants have contributed massively to the development of modern oncologic drugs. Despite the wide acceptance of Mauritian endemic flowering plants in traditional medicine, scientific evidence of their chemotherapeutic potential is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro tumor cytotoxicity of leaf extracts from five Mauritian endemic medicinal plants, namely Acalypha integrifolia Willd (Euphorbiaceae), Labourdonnaisia glauca Bojer (Sapotaceae), Dombeya acutangula Cav. subsp. rosea Friedmann (Malvaceae), Gaertnera psychotrioides (DC.) Baker (Rubiaceae), and Eugenia tinifolia Lam (Myrtaceae). The cytotoxicities of the extracts were determined against six human cancer cell lines, including cervical adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The potent extracts were further investigated using cell cycle analysis and reverse phase protein array (RPPA) analysis. The antioxidant properties and polyphenolic profile of the potent extracts were also evaluated. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed the presence of (+)-catechin and gallocatechin in E. tinifolia and L. glauca, while gallic acid was detected in A. integrifolia. L. glauca, A. integrifolia, and E. tinifolia were highly selective towards human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (KYSE-30) cells. L. glauca and E. tinifolia arrested KYSE30 cells in the G2/M phase, in a concentration-dependent manner. RPPA analysis indicated that the extracts may partly exert their tumor growth-inhibitory activity by upregulating the intracellular level of 5′AMP-activated kinase (AMPK). The findings highlight the potent antiproliferative activity of three Mauritian endemic leaf extracts against oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and calls for further investigation into their chemotherapeutic application

Functional Foods and Lifestyle Approaches for Diabetes Prevention and Management

Functional foods contain biologically active ingredients associated with physiological health benefits for preventing and managing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A regular consumption of functional foods may be associated with enhanced anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, insulin sensitivity, and anti-cholesterol functions, which are considered integral to prevent and manage T2DM. Components of the Mediterranean diet (MD)—such as fruits, vegetables, oily fish, olive oil, and tree nuts—serve as a model for functional foods based on their natural contents of nutraceuticals, including polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, pigments, and unsaturated fatty acids. Polyphenols within MD and polyphenol-rich herbs—such as coffee, green tea, black tea, and yerba maté—have shown clinically-meaningful benefits on metabolic and microvascular activities, cholesterol and fasting glucose lowering, and anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation in high-risk and T2DM patients. However, combining exercise with functional food consumption can trigger and augment several metabolic and cardiovascular protective benefits, but it is under-investigated in people with T2DM and bariatric surgery patients. Detecting functional food benefits can now rely on an “omics” biological profiling of individuals’ molecular, genetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, but is under-investigated in multi-component interventions. A personalized approach for preventing and managing T2DM should consider biological and behavioral models, and embed nutrition education as part of lifestyle diabetes prevention studies. Functional foods may provide additional benefits in such an approach

Pluripharmacological potential of Mascarene endemic plant leaf extracts

DATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request.Please read abstract in the article.The Mauritius Research Innovation Council under the National Research and Innovation Chair Program studentship and the Royal Society and Royal Society of Chemistry international exchange award.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/babhj2024Plant Production and Soil ScienceSDG-15:Life on lan

Clinical Study Effectiveness of Green Tea in a Randomized Human Cohort: Relevance to Diabetes and Its Complications

Epidemiological studies have argued that green tea could mitigate diabetes and its complications. This study investigated the phytophenolic profile of Mauritian green tea and its antioxidant propensity. The effect of green tea on the risk factors: waist-hip ratio, glucose level, arterial pressure, antioxidant status, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in prediabetics was assessed. The experimental group consumed 3 cups of green tea daily for 14 weeks followed by a 2-week washout period. The control group followed a water regimen. Green tea contained high level of phenolics related to its antioxidant power. Green tea suppressed waisthip ratio of women from a significant increase and suppressed mean arterial pressure of men and women from a significant decrease after week 14. It reduced ALT level in women by 13.0% ( &lt; 0.1) while increasing the antioxidant potential of men and women sera by 2.7% ( &lt; 0.1) and 5.1% ( &lt; 0.1). The study timescale may have been too short to enable demonstration of effects on fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c outcomes. Green tea regimen could form part of a healthy lifestyle that might ameliorate features of metabolic syndrome and subsequent risks for diabetes and its complications. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01248143

Phenotypic and molecular diversity of litchi cultivars in Mauritius

Introduction. Litchi has gained considerable economic importance in Mauritius as it is highly prized on the local and export markets for its size, colour and flavour, although no characterisation work has been performed so far. Materials and methods. In order to optimise litchi germplasm management in Mauritius, we evaluated 34 litchi accessions from three different agroclimatic regions. Phenotypic and morphological characters, and microsatellite markers were studied. Results and discussion. Phenological observations conducted over four consecutive fruiting cycles (2003/2004 to 2006/2007) showed that accessions could be grouped into early- and late-flowering cultivars, which initiated floral panicles from June to July and July to August, respectively. The harvesting season of litchi lasted from mid-November to mid-January with early-maturing cultivars being ready for harvest in the first month of the season. Phenological characters and fruit characterisation showed that the newly-introduced cultivar ‘Yook Ho Pow’ had a high commercial potential. Molecular studies using twelve pairs of SSR primers showed that, despite phenotypic variations among ‘Tai So’ genotypes in different locations (such as percentage of chicken-tongued seeds and leaflet size), the SSR profiles of leaf samples from all the studied ‘Tai So’ accessions were identical, suggesting that phenotypic differences could probably be attributed to environmental conditions rather than to genetic variations. Molecular characterisation revealed different cases of synonymies and homonymies in the genotypes studied