Diplotaxis simplex suppresses postprandial hyperglycemia in mice by inhibiting key-enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes

Abstract Nutritional properties of Diplotaxis simplex Spreng., Brassicaceae, an edible wild cruciferous largely distributed in North Africa, were investigated. Potassium (3690–3780 mg/100 g) and calcium (900–1170 mg/100 g) were the most concentrated minerals. Linoleinic acid was found to be the main fatty acid (25.4–27.7%), followed by palmitic acid (13.2–15.3%). Moreover, lipidic fraction of leaves was characterized by a relatively high rate of ethyl linoleate (14.4%) and phytol (17.6%). Ethyl acetate extract of D. simplex flowers showed concentration-dependent α-amylase (IC50 3.46 mg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 0.046 mg/ml) inhibitory activities. The positive in vitro enzymes inhibition was confirmed by a maltose tolerance test, which showed that treatment with flowers extract significantly inhibited the rise in blood glucose levels of maltose-loaded mice comparable to the standard antihyperglycemic agent acarbose. From these results, it may be concluded that D. simplex flowers can be used effectively as a safer alternative therapy to control postprandial hyperglycemia

The cruciferous Diplotaxis simplex: Phytochemistry analysis and its protective effect on liver and kidney toxicities, and lipid profile disorders in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a prevalent systemic disease affecting an important proportion of the population worldwide. It has been suggested that excessive reactive oxygen species generation and therefore development of an oxidative stress status is a key factor leading to diabetic complications. Accordingly, it seems that medicinal plants can offer a wide range of new antidiabetic drugs. Diplotaxis simplex (Viv.) Spreng. (Brassicaceae) is an edible plant largely distributed in the Mediterranean region. D. simplex flowers display important in vitro antioxidant potential and inhibitory activity of the α-glucosidase, a key enzyme linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this paper, the antihyperglycemic potential of D. simplex flowers on diabetic rats were investigated. Methods Bioactive substances were determined by liquid chromatography-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS) analysis. Animals were divided into four groups of six rats each: a normal control group, a diabetic control group, a diabetic group receiving flowers extract (200 mg/kg body mass) and a diabetic group receiving acarbose (10 mg/kg body mass) as standard drug. Results Many glycosides of rhamnetin, isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol compounds were identified in the ethanolic flowers extract. Alloxan induced hyperglycemia, manifested by a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the blood glucose level as well as in serum α-amylase activity. Furthermore, diabetic rats exhibited oxidative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities and an increase in lipid peroxidation level of the pancreas, liver and kidneys. Interestingly, the oral administration of D. simplex flowers extract during 30 days restored the glycemia, α-amylase activity, serum lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the flowers extract exhibited a renal protective role by decreasing the urea and creatinine levels in diabetic rats serum. Conclusions D. simplex flowers contained bioactive compounds that possess important antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties and protected pancreas, liver and kidneys against hyperglycemia damage

Brackets et frottement en orthodonti : étude expérimentale

De nombreux auteurs se sont intéressés au perfectionnement des brackets dans un souci d’améliorer la qualité, la stabilité, la rapidité et l’efficacité du traitement orthodontique. Dans le but de diminuer la friction entre le bracket et l’arc, de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques, basées sur de nouveaux moyens technologiques, ont été créées. Parmi ces nouvelles techniques, les brackets auto-ligaturants sont en plein essor. Ils peuvent être classés en plusieurs groupes en fonction de leur mode d’action et de leurs constituants. À travers une étude expérimentale, nous avons comparé les forces de frottement générées lors du glissement des arcs orthodontiques de divers alliages dans des brackets conventionnels et auto-ligaturants. Les résultats mettent en évidence une influence favorable de ces derniers, par rapport aux systèmes classiques associés à des ligatures élastomériques ou métalliques, sur le niveau des forces de frottement et en particulier en cas d’utilisation des arcs à mémoire de forme en Ni-Ti

Nutraceutical potential, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Terfezia boudieri Chatin, a wild edible desert truffle from Tunisia arid zone

Nutritional composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Terfezia boudieri Chatin, a desert truffle largely distributed in Southern Tunisia were evaluated. Carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrients (62.03 g/100 g) followed by proteins (26.12 g/100 g) in T. boudieri truffle (dry mass). The ash content was 4.49 g/100 g dry mass and potassium, phosphorus, iron, and calcium were found to be particularly abundant in T. boudieri. The fat content of the truffle was 8 g/100 g dry mass, characterized by its higher content of the essential linoleic acid (n-6) (54.18%). Eight volatile compounds were identified by GC and GC/MS and they were dominated by fatty acids. The results of ascorbic acid, total carotenoids and total anthocyanins expressed on a truffle dry mass were 12.20 mg/100 g, 1.43 mg/100 g and 35.40 mg/100 g, respectively. The methanolic extract, containing the highest amounts of phenolics and flavonoids, displayed the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.20 mg/ml) and the lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.36 mg/ml). Furthermore, the truffle extracts were tested for their antibacterial activity against seven species of bacteria. The methanolic extract also exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity on the tested strains, which minimum inhibitory concentration values ranged from 0.25 to 1.3 mg/ml

Central Inflammation and Sickness-Like Behavior Induced by the Food Contaminant Deoxynivalenol: A PGE2-Independent Mechanism

International audienceDeoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most abundant trichothecenes found on cereals, has been implicated in mycotoxicoses in both humans and farm animals. Low-dose toxicity is characterized by reduced weight gain, diminished nutritional efficiency, and immunologic effects. The levels and patterns of human food commodity contamination justify that DON consumption constitutes a public health issue. DON stability during processing and cooking explains its large presence in human food. We characterized here DON intoxication by showing that the toxin concomitantly affects feeding behavior, body temperature, and locomotor activity after both per os and central administration. Using c-Fos expression mapping, we identified the neuronal structures activated in response to DON and observed that the pattern of neuronal populations activated by the toxin resembled those induced by inflammatory signals. By real-time PCR, we report the first evidences for a DON-induced central inflammation, attested by the strong upregulation of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, and microsomal prostaglandin synthase-1 (mPGES-1) messenger RNA. However, silencing prostaglandins E2 signaling pathways using mPGES-1 knockout mice, which are resistant to cytokine-induced sickness behavior, did not modify the responses to the toxin. These results reveal that, despite strong similarities, behavioral changes observed after DON intoxication differ from classical sickness behavior evoked by inflammatory cytokines

The food-contaminant deoxynivalenol modifies eating by targeting anorexigenic neurocircuitry.

International audiencePhysiological regulations of energy balance and body weight imply highly adaptive mechanisms which match caloric intake to caloric expenditure. In the central nervous system, the regulation of appetite relies on complex neurocircuitry which disturbance may alter energy balance and result in anorexia or obesity. Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene, is one of the most abundant mycotoxins found on contaminated cereals and its stability during processing and cooking explains its widespread presence in human food. DON has been implicated in acute and chronic illnesses in both humans and farm animals including weight loss. Here, we provide the first demonstration that DON reduced feeding behavior and modified satiation and satiety by interfering with central neuronal networks dedicated to food intake regulation. Moreover, our results strongly suggest that during intoxication, DON reaches the brain where it modifies anorexigenic balance. In view of the widespread human exposure to DON, the present results may lead to reconsider the potential consequences of chronic DON consumption on human eating disorders