Hamzah Fansuri Hassan

Tinospora crispa Ameliorates Insulin Resistance Induced by High Fat Diet in Wistar Rats

The antidiabetic properties of Tinospora crispa, a local herb that has been used in traditional Malay medicine and rich in antioxidant, were explored based on obesity-linked insulin resistance condition. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely, the normal control (NC) which received standard rodent diet, the high fat diet (HFD) which received high fat diet only, the high fat diet treated with T. crispa (HFDTC), and the high fat diet treated with orlistat (HFDO). After sixteen weeks of treatment, blood and organs were harvested for analyses. Results showed that T. crispa significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the body weight (41.14 ± 1.40%), adiposity index serum levels (4.910 ± 0.80%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST: 161 ± 4.71 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT: 100.95 ± 3.10 U/L), total cholesterol (TC: 18.55 ± 0.26 mmol/L), triglycerides (TG: 3.70 ± 0.11 mmol/L), blood glucose (8.50 ± 0.30 mmo/L), resistin (0.74 ± 0.20 ng/mL), and leptin (17.428 ± 1.50 ng/mL) hormones in HFDTC group. The insulin (1.65 ± 0.07 pg/mL) and C-peptide (136.48 pmol/L) hormones were slightly decreased but within normal range. The histological results showed unharmed and intact liver tissues in HFDTC group. As a conclusion, T. crispa ameliorates insulin resistance-associated with obesity in Wistar rats fed with high fat diet.

Prenatal ultrasound heating impacts on fluctuations in haematological analysis of Oryctolagus cuniculus

Prenatal Ultrasound (US) is commonly used as a routine procedure on pregnant women. It is generally perceived as a safe procedure due to the use of non-ionizing radiation. However, the neurotoxicity of diagnostic prenatal US was detected to have a correlation with high susceptibility to early developing fetus. This research involved in vivo experimental model by using 3(rd) trimester pregnant Oryctolagus cuniculus and exposing them to US exposures for 30, 60, and 90 minutes at their gestational day (GD) 28-29. The output power and intensities, spatial peak temporal average intensity (ISPTA) of US were varied from 0.4 to 0.7 W and 0.13 to 0.19 W/cm(2) respectively were tested initially in free-field, water. Haematological analysis was carried out to detect any changes in blood constituents. Statistically significant differences were detected in red blood cell (RBC) count (P<0.001), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration (P<0.001) and also platelet (PLT) count (P<0.001) in newborn of Oryctolagus cuniculus. These findings indicate the possibility of US heating in causing defects on studied animal.

Anti-proliferative effect of Tinaspora crispa (L.) Hook. F. & Thompson and Gelam (Melaleuca sp.) honey on several cancer cell lines

Tinaspora crispa and Gelam (Melaleuca sp.) honey were identified as potential anti-proliferative agents due to presence of high antioxidant activity. In this research, human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116), human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cell lines were treated with both extracts and further diagnosed the viability using 3- (4,5 - dimethylthiazol-2-y) - 5 - (3-carboxymetaxyphenyl) 2- (4- sulphophenyl) - 2H - tetrazolium (MTS) assay. T.crispa and Gelam honey have showed anti-proliferative effects to selected cancer cell lines. The maximal effect of T. crispa and Gelam honey were demonstrated on HepG2 (IC50 = 9.13 µg/ml) and HCT116 (IC50 = 3.98 %, v/v) accordingly. In addition, we revealed that Gelam honey exhibited anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7. While the finest preparation of T.crispa crude extract revealed a potential result compared to previous studies. Total phenolic content may play the major role in demonstrating anti-proliferative effect, which was measured parallel as the main source of antioxidant activity.

Mechanism of apoptosis induced in hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cell lines by Tinospora crispa: Targeting signalling of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system and the insulin signalling (IS) pathway

Abstract Introduction Hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cell line proliferation is controlled by insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signalling system. It is affected by exaggeration of self-producing IGF-1 ligand and disruption of the insulin signalling (IS) pathway which are later inhibit apoptotic activity. Tinospora crispa, a local herbal plant used as folklore medicine, contains natural insulin enhancer and possesses antiproliferative effects. The plant will be used in the study to observe its effect in restoring physiological function of the IS pathway, subsequently inducing apoptosis. Objective To evaluate the mechanism of T. crispa in compensating insulin resistance thus inducing apoptosis in HepG2 cancer cell line. Methods The protein expression of the IGF and IS pathways was investigated by the Western blotting method in order to track the compensatory mechanism. Results & Discussion IGF-1R overexpression in HepG2 impaired insulin-induced AKT phosphorylation thus inactivated glucose intake through GLUT4. After treated with T. crispa crude methanolic extract, IGF-1R function of the cells was downregulated (p 0.32). The extract permitted the function of the IS pathway of HepG2 by enhancing insulin-induced autophosphorylation (PY20) on the s – insulin receptor (IR-β) (p Conclusion Tinospora crispa has the potential as an anti-cancer agent via targeting insulin-like growth factor system and insulin signalling pathway in HepG2 cancer cell line.