Rashmi Shukla

An extract of Pueraria tuberosa tubers attenuates diabetic nephropathy by upregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in the kidney of diabetic rats.

Currently, no drug is available to directly target the signaling molecules involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN); only antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs are in clinical use. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of a active fraction of tubers from Pueraria tuberosa (hereafter referred to as PTY‐2) were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)‐diabetic rats with DN, with particular emphasis on its effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp)‐9 expression in kidney tissue.

Pueraria tuberose (PTY-2) attenuates diabetic nephropathy by up-regulating the MMP-9 expression in the kidney of diabetic rats.

Currently, no drug is available to directly target the signaling molecules involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN); only antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs are in clinical use. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of a active fraction of tubers from Pueraria tuberosa (hereafter referred to as PTY‐2) were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)‐diabetic rats with DN, with particular emphasis on its effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp)‐9 expression in kidney tissue.

Effect of extract of Pueraria tuberosa on expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in kidney of diabetic rats

BACKGROUNDS Kidney hypoxia represents a unifying mechanism in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α mediates the metabolic responses of renal hypoxia by modulating the expression of VEGF. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Pueraria tuberosa extract (PTY-2r) on the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and nephrin in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS The model of diabetic nephropathy (DN) was produced by intraperitoneal injection of 55mg/kg of STZ and maintained for 60days. These DN-rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., DN, DN+PTY-2r (100mg/100g), and DN+PTY-2r (50mg/100g). A normal control (NC) group was administrated with drug vehicle. Expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and nephrin were evaluated in the renal tissue. RESULTS Blood glucose, urine protein, serum creatinine, and urea, level were significantly raised along with decreased creatinine clearance in DN rats. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis showed significantly increased expression of HIF-1α & VEGF and decreased expression of nephrin in DN control rats. The PTY-2r treatment significantly reversed these changes in a dose-dependent manner. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of VEGF was positively correlated with that of HIF-1α and negatively correlated with nephrin. CONCLUSIONS The PTY-2r can improve the chronic hyperglycemic condition induced kidney damage, and may delay the development of diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF, thereby restoring the expression of nephrin.

Engineered Cellular Uptake and Controlled Drug Delivery Using Two Dimensional Nanoparticle and Polymer for Cancer Treatment

Two major problems in chemotherapy, poor bioavailability of hydrophobic anticancer drug and its adverse side effects causing nausea, are taken into account by developing a sustained drug release vehicle along with enhanced bioavailability using two-dimensional layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with appropriate surface charge and its subsequent embedment in polymer matrix. A model hydrophobic anticancer drug, raloxifene hydrochloride (RH), is intercalated into a series of zinc iron LDHs with varying anion charge densities using an ion exchange technique. To achieve significant sustained delivery, drug-intercalated LDH is embedded in poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix to develop intravenous administration and to improve the therapeutic index of the drug. The cause of sustained release is visualized from the strong interaction between LDH and drug, as measured through spectroscopic techniques, like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared, UV-visible spectroscopy, and thermal measurement (depression of melting temperature and considerable reduction in heat of fusion), using differential scanning calorimeter, followed by delayed diffusion of drug from polymer matrix. Interestingly, polymer nanohybrid exhibits long-term and excellent in vitro antitumor efficacy as opposed to pure drug or drug-intercalated LDH or only drug embedded PCL (conventional drug delivery vehicle) as evident from cell viability and cell adhesion experiments prompting a model depicting greater killing efficiency (cellular uptake) of the delivery vehicle (polymer nanohybrid) controlled by its better cell adhesion as noticed through cellular uptake after tagging of fluorescence rhodamine B separately to drug and LDH. In vivo studies also confirm the sustained release of drug in the bloodstream of albino rats using polymer nanohybrid (novel drug delivery vehicle) along with a healthy liver vis-à-vis burst release using pure drug/drug-intercalated LDHs with considerable damaged liver.

Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Press Cake of Jatropha curcas

Several compounds present in fruits as Polyphenol, are able to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. These properties are relevant mainly in tropical areas, as Amazonian region where infectious are highly prevalent. Therefore, this study investigated the antimicrobial activity of Jatropha curcas seed cake against microorganisms. The results showed antibacterial effect of Jatropha curcas seed cake methanolic extracts on two Gram-positive bacteria and Gram- negative bacteria. Effect of Jatropha curcas seed cake on Superoxide and nitric oxide production was also estimated in macrophage cells. This result suggests its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial potential of the herb, which could be due to the bio-active principles which are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial in nature. The present study, therefore emphasizes the use of Jatropha curcas seeds as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drug against macrophage cells and bacteria respectively.

Pueraria tuberosa extract inhibits iNOS and IL‐6 through suppression of PKC‐α and NF‐kB pathway in diabetes‐induced nephropathy

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to explore the anti‐inflammatory role of PTY‐2r (extracted from Pueraria tuberosa), on streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced DN rats.

PTY-2, a patented herbal formulation prevents progress of diabetic nephropathy by reducing the oxidative stress

Aim: To investigate whether adding metformin, a potent agent reducing insulin resistance (IR), improves treatment efficacy of chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1) naïve patients. Methods: 133 patients were analyzed: 70 patients with IR and 63 patients without it. 28 of 70 patients with IR received metformin. Metformin was added to conventional Peg-IFNα-2b/ribavirin therapy, or 3-6 months before the starting of antiviral treatment and continue throughout the course of therapy. Patients in the second (control) group with IR did not receive metformin (n=42). Patients receiving and not receiving metformin did not differ significantly by gender, the average of viral load and the degree of liver fibrosis (measured with using FibroScan®502). Results: Among the patients with HCV-1 without IR, SVR rate was 46% (n=29/63), and in patients with HCV-1 with IR (not receiving metformin), SVR was achieved in 42% of patients (n=18/42), p=0,33. In patients with HCV-1 and IR, receiving metformin, the SVR rate was 64% (n=18/28), p=0,001. Conclusion: Correction of IR with using of metformin has led to an increase of SVR in HCV-1 patients by 1.5 times. Significant reduction of glucose levels in patients with IR receiving metformin, wasn’t noted. Thus, metformin is safe for use in patients with chronic hepatitis C and IR as a medication reducing IR. ISSN 2639-9326 Research Article Citation: Olga Khafisova, Natalia Mazurchik, Olga Tarasova, et al. Interferon-Based Antiviral Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Combination with Metformin in Patients with HCV-1 Genotype and Insulin Resistance. Diabetes Complications. 2017; 1(4): 1-3.