CC BY
23
Abstracts. PHYTOPHARM 2017
METABOLIC EFFECTS OF THE CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA EXTRACT ZE 450 IN VITRO AND IN OB/OB MICE
© Moser C., Zahner C., Vickers S.P., Brammer R., Cheetham S.C., Unger M., Drewe J.
Max Zeller Söhne AG, Romanshorn, Switzerland
Metabolic changes have been often described in perimenopausal women. Therefore, the present experiments evaluated the potential antidiabetic effects of the Cimicifuga racemosa extract Ze 450.
Ze 450 and some of its components (23-epi-26-deoxyactein, protopine and cimiracemoside C) were investigated in vitro for their effects on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) compared to metformin in HepaRG cells. Ze 450 (given orally (PO) and intraperitonally (IP)), metformin (PO) and controls were given over 7 days to 68 male ob/ob mice. Glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at baseline and during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Ze 450 and its components activated AMPK to the same extent as metformin. In mice, Ze 450 (PO/IP) decreased significantly average daily and cumulative weight gain, and daily food and water intake, while metformin had no effect. In contrast to metformin, PO Ze 450 virtually did not change maximum glucose
levels during OGTT, but, prolonged elimination. Ze 450 administered PO and IP decreased significantly glucose-stimulated insulin, whereas metformin did not. HOMA-IR index of insulin resistance improved significantly after IP and PO Ze 450 but only slightly after metformin.
In summary, the results demonstrate that Ze 450 reduced significantly body weight, plasma glucose, improved glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in diabetic ob/ob mice. In vitro experiments suggest that part of the effects may be related to AMPK activation. Therefore, Ze 450 may have utility in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Thus, Ze 450 given for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women may give an additional benefit. However, longer term studies in additional animal models or patients with disturbed glucose tolerance or type II diabetes may be of use to further investigate this hypothesis.
PERSPECTIVES FOR THE STUDY
OF DYER'S GREENWEED - GENISTA TINCTORIA L.
© Zhokhova E.V., Protasova Y.A.
Saint-Petersburg State Chemical-Pharmaceutical Academy, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
For the search of promising species of medicinal plants for the purpose of isolating individual biological active substances and / or developing phytopreparations the experience of traditional medicine, as well as the latest world research is often used. In light of this Genista tinctoria L. (legumes - Fabaceae) undoubtedly has a great potential for closer examination. In folk medicine, Genista tinctoria is used for edema of cardiac and renal origin, hepatitis, rheumatism, gout, cystitis, furunculosis, dermatomycosis, allergic dermatitis, scrofululosis, migraine, salt deposition. Such components as alkaloids (quinolizidine groups), flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, essential oil, ascorbic acid are represented in the chemical composition of gorse dye. A significant part of the flavonoids of Genista tinctoria are isoflavonoids: genistein, genistin, daidzein, formononetin, ononin, etc., which have a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity. For example, natural genistein exhibits pronounced antitumor properties, as well as antioxidant, insignificant estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity (due to structural similarity to estrogens), radioprotective ability (RA Tarumov et al., 2014). Genistein has antidiabetic activity associated with regulation of glucose levels and other indicators of carbohydrate metabolism along several paths
simultaneously, including by preserving the functional mass of p-cells, protecting p cells from apoptosis, and activating signaling pathways (Tutelian VA et al. , 2016). Due to their antioxidant and estrogen-like activity, the Genista tinctoria isoflavonoids have a hepatoprotective effect, neutralize the hepatoxicity of paracetamol, toxicity of bisphenol A used in the production of polycarbonate plastic, rubber, food packaging, toothpicks, and methylparaben (a preservative of food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products) (DS Popa Et al., 2014). Thus, the comprehensive study of Genista tinctoria with the use of molecular genetics, comparative morphological-anatomical and phytochemical methods with the purpose of its introduction into official medicine and the study of chemotaxonomy of the Genista genus, using flavonoids as markers is actual.
References:
1. Tarumov et al. 2014. Medicine of Extreme Situations. 48(2):55-68.
2. Tutelyan et al. "Plant sources of phytonutrients for foods for special uses with anti-diabetic actions". 2016. Moscow, BIBLIO-GLOBUS. 422.
3. Popa et al. 2014. Biomedical and environmental sciences. 27(2): 85-96.
Obzory po kliniceskoj farmacologii i lekarstvennoj terapii [Reviews of clinical pharmacology and drug therapy]
vol. 15/2017/suppLeMEnT 1
