Review on Anti-diabetic Research on Two Important Spices: Trachyspermum ammi and Pimpinella anisum

The antimicrobial activities of crude methanolic extracts of five spices and herbs viz. Cuminum Cyminum (Family: Apiaceae), Nigella sativa (Family: Ranunculaceae), Pimpinella anisum (Family: Apiaceae), Trachyspermum copticum (Family: Umbelliferae), and rhizome of Zingiber officinale (Family: Zingiberaceae) were investigated by agar well diffusion method against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were assessed by the diameter of zone of inhibition against test strains. The extract of N. sativa showed the best inhibition against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The extract of Z. officinale and P. anisum showed same minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against all the test strains. The extract showed significant inhibitory activity against B. amyloliquefaciens, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus. The extract of C. cyminum significantly inhibited S. aureus, B. amyloliquefaciens, and P. aeruginosa. The extract of T. copticum was effective against E. coli, B. amyloliquefaciens, and P. aeruginosa, while the highest MIC obtained against S. aureus. The diameters of zone of inhibition obtained for standard antibiotics viz. ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline at MIC values of the extracts were compared with the crude methanolic extracts and found equally or more effective against the test strains. Phytochemical analysis showed carbohydrates, inulin, alkaloids, and glycosides in all the five extracts. Flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, reducing sugars, soluble phenols, and saponin glycosides were also detected. Steroids were absent. The organoleptic properties of the extracts were determined. The study indicated the great potential of these extracts as effective antimicrobial agents. Key words: Antibiotics, antimicrobial, crude methanolic extracts, inhibition, phytochemical analysis

Identification of highly effective antitrypanosomal compounds in essential oils from the Apiaceae family

Essential oils derived from seeds of five spice materials such as, Anethum graveolens, Carum copticum, Coriandrum sativum, Foeniculum vulgare and Pimpinella anisum (Family Umbelliferae) have been tested against five sugarcane pathogenic fungi. These oils have been found to possess strong antifungal activity. They are more potent than commercially available synthetic fungicides. Phytotoxic studies of these oils showed no adverse effect on seed germination and seedling growth of some common agricultural crops.

Spices have been an integral part of Indian cuisine for centuries, adding flavor, aroma, and colour to dishes. Indian spices are also known for their medicinal properties and have been used in traditional Indian medicine for centuries. Indian spices, a vibrant blend, of flavors that entice and transcend. Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, commonly known as ajwain, and Cuminum cyminum L., commonly known as cumin, are two important medicinal plants from the family Apiaceae. They have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat a wide range of ailments. Ajwain is a small, aromatic plant with pungent seeds which is a rich source of essential oils, including thymol, carvacrol, and p-cymene. These compounds have been shown to possess a variety of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Ajwain is traditionally used to treat a variety of digestive disorders, including indigestion, flatulence, colic, and diarrhea. It is also used to treat respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis. Ajwain has also been shown to have antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic effects. Cumin is a rich source of essential oils, including cumin aldehyde, beta-pinene, and gamma-terpinene. These compounds have been shown to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Cumin is traditionally used to treat a variety of digestive disorders, including indigestion, flatulence, and diarrhea. It is also used to treat respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis. Cumin has also been shown to have antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic effects. In conclusion, ajwain and cumin are two important medicinal plants with a wide range of potential therapeutic applications. Their use in traditional medicine is supported by a growing body of scientific evidence. This review represents the brief description of ajwain and cumin and their medicinal importance in our life.

Anise is an aromatic plant which is used in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industry. The main components of anise seed are anise alcohol, p-anisaldehyde, estragol, acetophenone, limonene and pinene, while the volatile oil found in anise is anethole. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant and analgesic properties of anise seeds and oil have been confirmed by various studies. The current study was designed to study the effects of oral administration of anise oil on the reproductive capacity of adult male mice by examining certain physiological parameters such as measuring the serum testosterone level, counting the number of sperm, sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology. A total of 36 male mice were used and randomly divided into three equal groups. Group1 received corn oil (control), T1 received anise oil in a dose of 0.043 gm/kg B.wt , and T2 received anise oil in a dose of 0.086 gm/kg B.Wt orally. The above mentioned parameters were examined at the end of three weeks of administration for six animals of each group. As well as, the examinations were repeated at the end of six weeks of administration for the rest of the animals. The results exhibited that treatment with anise oil led to a significant increase in the level of testosterone, sperm count and motility. Furthermore, abnormal morphology of the sperms decreased significantly. In conclusion, it can be said that the administered doses of anise oil could have led to improve the fertility in male mice.

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is frequently associated with chronic liver disease. There has been an increased interest in betatrophin protein and its involvement in the compensatory response to IR. We aimed to investigate the correlation of serum betatrophin levels with disease severity and the emergence of IR in cirrhotic patients. This study included 27 cirrhotic patients and 30 healthy participants who served as a control group. IR was assessed by the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR). Serum insulin and betatrophin levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).ResultsIR was existing in 74% of cirrhotic patients (p < 0.001). Subjects with IR had higher serum betatrophin levels than those without IR (p = 0.04). Serum betatrophin levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than controls (p < 0.001). In addition, Child-Pugh class C patients had higher serum betatrophin levels than those with Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis (p = 0.01). Moreover, the highest serum betatrophin levels were detected in patients with tense ascites followed by those with moderate and mild ascites (p = 0.01). In the cirrhosis group, serum betatrophin levels correlated positively with fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.001), fasting insulin levels (p = 0.006), HOMA-IR (p = 0.006), Child-Pugh score (p = 0.023), MELD score (p < 0.001), and INR (p = 0.005), and correlated negatively with platelets count (p = 0.01).ConclusionCirrhotic patients have higher serum betatrophin levels; moreover, these levels are positively correlated with disease severity as well as the emergence of insulin resistance.

It is well known that naturally occurring substances in higher plants have antioxidant activity. Recently there has been increased interest in free radicals in biological systems and their roles as causative agents in a variety of chronic disorders. Accordingly, attention is being focused on the protective biochemical functions of naturally occurring antioxidants in the cells of the organisms containing them. The aim of this work was investigation of free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) of seven seeds from Apiacean plants (Carum carvi L., Coriandrum sativum L., Cuminum cyminum L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer, Pimpinella anisum L. and Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link). All of these plants are used in food industry and Iranian's traditional Medicine. FRS activities of the ethanolic extracts are evaluated by DPPH method. The total flavonoid content (TFC) in the extracts was determined by AlCl3 method and calculated as rutin. The results showed that all examined extracts have FRSA activity. The highest scavenging activity was obtained with the extract of P. anisum (IC50 =96.46µg/mL). The largest quantity of the TFC was determined in the extract C. cyminum (FC=56.92µg/mg). However, a favorable correlation was not found between the FRSA and TFC of the extracts. Besides, four different fractions of P. anisum seed (as the most active radical scavenger) were studied for their FRSA. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest activity with inhibition percentage value (IP=93.39%).

The use of a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for therapeutic purposes is known as herbal medicine, often called botanical medicine or phytomedicine. There is a long history of using herbs outside of traditional treatment. The use of herbal medicine in treating and preventing disease is becoming more widespread due to advancements in clinical research, analysis, and quality control. There is a long history of using native plants in traditional medicine. Plants serve as the primary source of resources for the conventional medical procedures practiced in rural and tribal regions in India and other countries. Ajowan, or Trachyspermum ammi, is a widely used name. One of the traditional possible herbs used as a spice in daily life is ajwain, or Trachyspermum ammi L., a member of the Apiaceae family. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices all contain phenolic compounds, which have potent anti-inflammatory, antigenotoxic, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. A Soxhlet extractor was utilized to extract the methanol from the dried seeds of Trachyspermum ammi. The Fenton reaction was used to measure the seed's total phenolic content, and it showed good antioxidant activity at various dosage concentrations. With ascorbic acid serving as the standard reducing agent, the antioxidant activity of the seed extract was evaluated. The UV-visible spectrophotometer was used to obtain the current results. A notable concentration-dependent free radical scavenging and reduction power was demonstrated in this plant extract, Trachyspermum ammi. Using SGOT and SGPT enzymes, we also determined that the gastroprotective action of T. ammi extract was significantly higher than that of the standard medication Liv52 and control liver enzymes. The liver histology slide treated with T. ammi extract shows a typical liver lobule. The hepatocytes are polyhedral, have eosinophilic cytoplasm, and typically have a central nucleus. Endothelially lined sinusoids are located between the hepatocyte cords and exhibit normal liver histology compared to control and Liv52-treated groups. Significantly less intestinal histology was observed as compared to untreated control. The current study concludes that Trachyspermum ammi extract may have a natural antioxidant and gastroprotective activity. Trachyspermum ammi is a great way to add gastroprotective and antioxidant phenolic components to your diet.

Obesity-induced insulin resistance leads to abnormalities in glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. Our study examined the differences in insulin-mediated glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism between morbidly obese subjects with non-obese controls and the associated changes following sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Non-obese controls and individuals with morbid obesity and scheduled for SG were recruited. Metabolic assessments were performed for all subjects at baseline and at 6months after SG for eight subjects. The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique together with comprehensive metabolomic profiling was used to quantify insulin-mediated glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism. Eleven morbidly obese non-diabetic subjects scheduled for SG and nine non-obese controls were recruited. Compared to controls, obese subjects had significantly lower glucose uptake (4.4 ± 0.6 vs. 17.3 ± 2.4mg/kg FFM/min per μU/mL·100) and higher concentration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs, 332.5 ± 26.8 vs. 235.3 ± 11.0μM), non-esterified fatty acid (52.9 ± 9.9 vs. 25.6 ± 6.7μM), and lipid-related acylcarnitines (intermediate chain 389.8 ± 32.5 vs. 285.9 ± 20.5; long chain 301.7 ± 22.1 vs. 236.0 ± 13.3nM) during insulin clamp. Body weight significantly reduced at 6months after bariatric surgery (92.5 ± 6.3 vs. 115.2 ± 6.9kg), together with improvements in insulin-mediated glucose uptake, and suppression of BCAAs, non-esterified fatty acids, and lipid-related metabolites. Morbid obesity in Asian individuals was associated with impairment in the regulatory actions of insulin on glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, and these obesity-induced regulatory dysfunctions improved significantly 6months after SG.

ABSTRACTThe metabolic disease favism is an acute hemolytic anemia. Anise oil was obtained from Pimpinella anisum L. seeds (family Apiaceae). The objective of this study was to establish the protective effect of anise oil in favism disorders. Forty-eight male albino rats were divided into six groups: group 1 orally administrated 1 mL distilled water, group 2 orally received 300 mg/kg anise oil, and group 3 orally administrated 100 mg/kg anethole over a seven-day period, group 4 favism-induced rats, group 5 orally administrated 300 mg/kg anise oil and group 6 orally administrated 100 mg/kg anethole once a day over a seven-day period prior to favism induction. The result obtained revealed that oral administration of either anise oil or anethole into normal rats over a seven-day period did not induce any change. Following favism induction, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red and white blood cell counts, serum glucose, blood glutathione, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, total protein, globulin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases levels were significantly decreased, while serum alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin showed significant increase. Pretreatment with either anise oil or anethole into favism-induced rats prevented these changes. Favism also induced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and prior treatment of anise oil maintained liver DNA content. These results were supported by histopathological evaluation. In conclusion, anise oil pretreatment into favism-induced rats decreased the favism disorders, and this effect was related to the anethole ingredient of the oil.

Background Renewed interest in natural materials as food flavors and preservatives has led to the search for suitable essential oils. One factor that influences the essential oil content (%) is the extraction method used. Carum carvi (caraway), Anethum graveolens L. (anise), and Pimpinella anisum L. (dill) are well known plants from Apiaceae family widely spread in Egypt, where they have good climatic and soil conditions for high yield and good quality. Essential oil content is the main criteria for determining the quality of the fruits of these plant species. The aim of the study was to choose the best method for essential oil extraction. Objective The present research was conducted to evaluate the possible impacts of two types of distillation methods − hydrodistillation and hydro-steam distillation on essential oil content (%) and its main constituents of caraway, anise, and dill fruits. Materials and methods Seeds of the three species were subjected to two types of distillation methods − hydrodistillation and hydro-steam distillation. The essential oil content (%) of the three plants were determined and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses was carried out to identify the chemical constituents of the oil samples and their percentage were calculated in order to clear the effect of the two extraction methods applied. Results and conclusion It was established that while hydrodistillation gave higher essential oil yields for caraway and dill seeds (3.14 and 2.36%, respectively), hydro-steam distillation gave the maximum mean values of essential oil content of anise seeds (0.76%). The maximum values of the main components such as carvone (54.45%), transanethole (98.97%), and carvone (57.71%) were obtained as a result of hydrodistillation method for caraway, dill, and anise seeds, respectively.

Targeting Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase: A novel approach for diabetes therapy

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting greater than 400million people across the world. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is caused by two important factors such as defective insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells of islets of Langerhans and the development of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance refers to when cells of the body including the muscle, liver and fat cells fail to respond to insulin eventhough adequate amount of insulin is secreted by β-cells. In fat cells, triglycerides are broken down to produce free fatty acids for energy; muscle cells are deprived of an energy source and liver cells fail to build up glycogen stores. To maintain glucose homeostasis, it is important to regulate the mechanism of insulin synthesis and release. Defects in the mechanisms results in metabolic imbalance which leads to the development of T2DM. It is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism with its characteristic symptoms like thirst, polyuria, blurring of vision, weight loss and polyphagia. Present day survey states that there are 77 million people in India have Diabetes mellitus. Researchers disclosed that this statistical data will increase to 134 million by end of 2045 due to heredity and life style of the people. Ayurveda is a Science of life. Presently there is an ever-increasing demand for robust research work on traditional medicine to enhance the core competency of Ayurveda without compromising its fundamental principles. Since thousands of year’s traditional Ayurvedic medicine has been used to treat various human diseases including diabetes. Many medicinal plants, natural products and food additives are potential treatments for diabetic control. Hence, this chapter is intended to observe the antidiabetic effects of food additives such as Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimum tenuiflorum. Syzygium cumini, Abroma augusta L, Emblica officinalis, Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by defects in both insulin signaling and insulin secretion. Though the role of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes remains largely unexplored, the few examples present in the literature are interesting and suggest targets for drug development. Studies indicate that insulin resistance can be induced by stimulating the degradation of important molecules in the insulin signaling pathway, in particular the insulin receptor substrate proteins IRS1, IRS2 and the kinase AKT1 (Akt). In addition, a defect in insulin secretion could occur due to UPS-mediated degradation of IRS2 in the β-cells of the pancreas. The UPS also appears to be involved in regulating lipid synthesis in adipocytes and lipid production by the liver and could influence the development of obesity. Other possible mechanisms for inducing defects in insulin signaling and secretion remain to be explored, including the role of ubiquitylation in insulin receptor internalization and trafficking.Republished from Current BioData's Targeted Proteins database (TPdb; ).

Trachyspermum copticum (Apiaceae) is an annual plant which grows in Iran. The fruits of T. copticum (Ajwain) traditionally were used as diuretic, carminative, and antihelmentic. Some biological effects of Ajwain such as antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant activities have been confirmed. The objective of the present investigation was toevaluate the antibacterial activity of extracts of callus and seed and essential oil of Ajwain against some bacterial strains (Pseudomonas viridiflava, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringaeand Escherichia coli).The extracts and essential oil were prepared and the antibacterial activity was evaluated via growth inhibitory zone assay using disc diffusion agar technique. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was measured by micro broth dilution assay. The results revealed no significant effect for callus extract, however, the effect of seed extract and essential oil on tested bacterial strains was statistically significant. The greatest impact was observed for essential oil and inhibition halo diameter was reported 28.5 mm for P. syringae pv. syringae, MIC and MBC were measured 1.56 and 3.12% v/v, respectively.