Medicinal plants used in the management of diabetes mellitus 2015

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common endocrine disorders prevalent in almost all of the countries. This chronic pathology is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by defective insulin action, insulin secretion, or the combination of both. Prolonged persistence of elevated blood glucose level consequently caused a series of complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiomyopathy. Currently available synthetic drugs for treating this disease are found to be associated with many adverse effects. The use of plants in medicine is an age-long practice in various parts of the globe for both preventive and curative purposes. Several warnings have been issued over lack of quality control, scientific evidence for the efficacy, and potential adverse effects of herbal remedies including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity among others. Despite all of these, reliance on herbs as medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus is still much practiced by a large proportion of the world population because they are readily available and affordable with perceived reduced toxicity. Therefore, with the upsurge of interests in medicinal plants, there is a need for thorough scientific investigations of these plants for both efficacy and potential toxicity. In this issue, we present some recent advances in the use of medicinal plants for treating diabetes mellitus. B. Pang et al. (“Innovative Thoughts of Treating Diabetes from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine”)presented a review article on the contribution of traditional Chinese medicine to the development of alternative and complementary medicine for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus. In another paper (“Effect of Rhizoma Coptidis (Huang Lian) on Treating Diabetes Mellitus”), B. Pang et al. discussed the efficacy and safety of Rhizoma Coptidis in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In another study (“Evaluation of the Effects of Cornus mas L. Fruit Extract on Glycemic Control and Insulin Level in Type 2 Diabetic Adult Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial”), R. Soltani et al. reported the results of a clinical trial on the effect of Cornus mas L. fruit extract on hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, W. Liu et al. (“The Effects of Chinese Medicine on Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signal Pathway under High Glucose Condition”) present a valuable review on some compounds implicated in the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway as a mechanism of action involved in the antihyperglycemic activity from Chinese medicine. Furthermore, A. O. T. Ashafa and M. I. Kazeem (“Toxicopathological Evaluation of Hydroethanol Extract of Dianthus basuticus in Wistar Rats”) reported on the effects of Dianthus basuticus (a Basotho plant with acclaimed antidiabetic activity) on some biochemical parameters and histology of Wistar rats. Finally, X.-J. Li et al. (“TCM Formula Xiaoyaosan Decoction Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors in Rats with Type 2 Diabetes”) evaluated the effect of traditional medicine formula, Xiaoyaosan, on the cognitive function of diabetic rats. After the first volume of this special issue that was published in 2014, we hope that this issue will present additional valuable information for scientists and clinicians

Pedo-anthracological study in Toufliht area (Moroccan High Atlas): Evidence of a palaeo-fire and a change in forest cover around 4500 – 4000 BP (5300 – 4200 cal. BP)

A pedological and anthracological study carried out in the Moroccan High Atlas mountains on the soil profile along a slope currently occupied by Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp., allowed us to reconstruct its history and to account for changes in vegetation after major events whether climatological or anthropogenic. The analysis of the profile reveals two superimposed soils. The organic matter at the base of the slope (1400 m) shows an abnormal distribution with a deep horizon (55 – 70 cm) enriched in organic matter including many fragments of charcoal, which indicate a fire dated at 4300 – 4100 cal. BP. This horizon represents the old soil surface covered by colluviation on which a new soil has formed. The latter represents a surface organic horizon which is rich in charcoal dating back to 80 cal. BP. The anthracological study shows the existence of charcoal of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) dating back at about 3800 years BP (about 4300 – 4100 cal. BP). The presence of this species, whose current upper limit is located at about 200 m lower down, indicates the existence of fires occurring during dry periods already revealed in the western Mediterranean between 5300 and 3400 cal. BP. The other plant remnants indicate a vegetation consisting mainly of Cistus sp. and Quercus sp. This study shows, thus, the salient role of Mediterranean forest fires in the spatial-temporal redistribution phenomena of plant species and also in the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystemsDes analyses pédologiques et anthracologiques réalisées dans le Haut Atlas Marocain sur un profil de sol d'un versant, actuellement occupé par Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp., permettent de reconstituer l'histoire de ce versant et de rendre compte de l'évolution de la végétation suite à des événements majeurs climatiques ou anthropiques. L'analyse d'un profil montre deux sols superposés. L'étude de la matière organique à la base du versant (1450 m) montre une distribution anormale avec un horizon profond (55 ― 70 cm) enrichi en matière organique dans lequel on retrouve de nombreux charbons de bois, qui renseignent sur un incendie daté de 4300 ― 4100 cal. BP. Cet horizon représente l'ancienne surface du sol recouverte par des colluvionnements sur lesquels s'est développé un autre sol. Ce dernier présente un horizon organique de surface également riche en charbon de bois daté environ 80 cal. BP. L'étude anthracologique montre la présence de charbons de Pin d'Alep (Pinus halepensis Mill.) datés d'environ 3800 ans BP (environ 4300 ― 4100 cal. B.P.). La présence de cette essence, dont la limite supérieure actuelle est située environ 200 m plus bas, traduit l'existence d'incendies se produisant lors des périodes sèches déjà révélés dans le bassin méditerranéen occidental entre 5300 et 3400 cal. B.P. Les autres restes végétaux reflètent une végétation constituée essentiellement de Cistus sp. et de Quercus sp. Cette étude montre ainsi le rôle important des incendies des forêts méditerranéennes dans les phénomènes de redistribution spatio-temporelle des espèces végétales et dans la dynamique des écosystèmes terrestres

Aqueous extract of oakmoss produces antihypertensive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats through sGC-cGMP pathway

Background Lichens are a symbiotic association of a fungus with a green alga or cyanobacterium. They are widely used in traditional medicine as a treatment against skin disorders, diabetes and hypertension. The Aim of the Study The goal of this paper was to assess the possible antihypertensive and vasorelaxant capacity of the aqueous extract of a lichen species called Oakmoss or Evernia prunastri (L.). Material and Methods In the present study, the aqueous extract of Oakmoss was prepared, its antihypertensive activity was examined in N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats, and its vasorelaxant ability was performed in rat isolated thoracic aorta. Results The results proved that Oakmoss reduced the systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate in hypertensive rats but not in normotensive rats. Besides, the data showed that Oakmoss exerts its antihypertensive effect through vasorelaxant ability. Conclusion The present study presents the favorable action of Oakmoss as an antihypertensive agent