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Available synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyl anisole, butylated hydroxyl toluene, propyl gallate, and ascorbic acid exhibit several side effects. To curb these side effects, more effective, less toxic, and cost-effective drugs are required. Therefore, this study aims to screen and evaluate the antioxidant as well as the anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of Houttuynia cordata collected from Mairang village, West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India using several standard methods. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of H. cordata were evaluated by screening their ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrozyl, 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide. Total phenol and flavonoid content was measured by Folin-Ciocalteau and by AlCl3 colorimetric method respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity of the plant was determined using the protein denaturation method. Methanolic and aqueous extracts of Houttuynia cordata exhibit varying free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity. Among the extracts used in the study, the methanolic extract of Houttuynia cordata elicited a higher activity than the aqueous extract. Houttuynia cordata also elicited a marked reduction in blood glucose level of normal and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Flavonoids, which have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, enzyme inhibition, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiallergy, and antioxidant properties may contribute towards the free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effect of Houttuynia cordata.

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The present study is aimed at investigating the modulation of serine/threonine phosphorylation of IRS1 and the gene expression oftotal IRS1 and adipokines including TNF-α, IL-6 and adiponectin by the plant Potentilla fulgens and its phytochemical constituents catechin and (-)-epicatechin. Alloxan-induced diabetic mice with a two-to three-fold increase in their blood glucose levels were taken for the study. The level of protein expression of total (tIRS1), tyrosine (pIRS1), and serine phosphorylated IRS1 (pIRS1 ser307) was analysed by western blot, and the gene expression level of tIRS1, IL-6, TNF-α, and adiponectin was analysed by real-time PCR. Since evidences strongly suggest that adiponectin, TNF-α, and IL-6 are implicated in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, therefore these three adipokines have been targeted in our study with an aim to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects of our plant Potentillafulgens(PF) andits phytochemicals. The results strongly demonstrates the capability of PF and its phytochemicals to modulate the ser/thr phosphorylation state of IRS1 by downregulating the serine 307 phosphorylation while simultaneously upregulating the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS1. The results also indicate the ability of the same to alleviate inflammation in alloxan induced diabetes by modulating the expression of the insulin sensitizing hormone adiponectin and the pro-inflammatory cytokines L-6 and TNF-α.