Can Avicenna Help Manage the Diabetes Epidemic in Central Asia?

Objectives: The fast-rising rate of diabetes incidents is a growing concern in Central Asian countries. This article reviews the current understanding of type 2 diabetes etiology, progression and treatment options along with opportunities for utilizing Avicenna’s legacy in developing novel botanical therapeutics. Methods: Analysis of relevant publications, including a variety of Avicenna’s work in Arabic, English and Russian. Results: With conventional treatment strategy shifting from single-component drugs aimed at one target to multitherapeutic combinations addressing the complex nature of many diseases and conditions, the role of multicomponent botanical preparations may increase. Diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic, progressive disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which is associated with a variety of comorbidities because of considerable damage, dysfunction and failure of multiple organs developed through the disease’s progression. Multidisciplinary collaborative research that encompasses innovative tools could be used for effective development of new comprehensive therapeutic products and treatments based on knowledge of traditional medicine and supported by contemporary scientific validation. Conclusion: Comprehensive analysis of Avicenna’s 1,000-year-old approach to the treatment of prediabetes and diabetes provides valuable directions in the search for plant-based treatments. Botanical therapeutics may provide relatively inexpensive and safe methods for diabetes treatment

A New Non-Enzymatic Amperometric Sensor Based on Nickel Decorated ZIF-8 Derived Carbon Nanoframe for the Glucose Determination in Blood Samples

The present study demonstrated a highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose biosensor in real blood samples based on simple evaluated nickel deposited on N-doped porous carbon modified glassy carbon electrode (Ni/NPC/GCE) by applying electrochemical deposition method. The prepared material initially were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, the morphology structure of the as-prepared samples was observed by SEM, and composition, crystals structure of Ni/NPC were identified by SEM mapping and EDS tests. The Ni/NPC/GCE compared with NPC/GCE and NiNPs/GCE performed the best electrocatalytic behavior towards oxidation of glucose in 0.1 M KOH medium. By applied potential of +0.6 V Ni/NPC/GCE showed very high sensitivity of 3753.78 mu AmM(-1)cm(-2) in linear range of 1-7940 mu M with the correlation coefficient of R-2=0.995. The linear ranges get views above the concentration up to 7940 mu M with the detection limit of 0.3 mu M (S/N= 3). Amperometric time responses of prepared electrode towards different glucose concentrations are 0.8-1.3s. Finally, several positive characteristics such as very high sensitivity, weak working potential, nice anti-interference properties, long stability, good selectivity, and comparison with some other non-enzymatic sensors Ni/NPC/GCE executed high sensitivity, low detection limit and wide linear range to glucose sensing, thus the selected electrode is supplying for future glucose level determination design

Assessment of Artemisinin Contents in Selected <i>Artemisia</i> Species from Tajikistan (Central Asia)

Background: Central Asia is the center of origin and diversification of the Artemisia genus. The genus Artemisia is known to possess a rich phytochemical diversity. Artemisinin is the shining example of a phytochemical isolated from Artemisia annua, which is widely used in the treatment of malaria. There is great interest in the discovery of alternative sources of artemisinin in other Artemisia species. Methods: The hexane extracts of Artemisia plants were prepared with ultrasound-assisted extraction procedures. Silica gel was used as an adsorbent for the purification of Artemisia annua extract. High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was performed for the quantification of underivatized artemisinin from hexane extracts of plants. Results: Artemisinin was found in seven Artemisia species collected from Tajikistan. Content of artemisinin ranged between 0.07% and 0.45% based on dry mass of Artemisia species samples. Conclusions: The artemisinin contents were observed in seven Artemisia species. A. vachanica was found to be a novel plant source of artemisinin. Purification of A. annua hexane extract using silica gel as adsorbent resulted in enrichment of artemisinin