<i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> leaf is very effective in managing diabetes and rich in phenolic compounds. However, the modes of action of the phytochemicals are mainly unknown. Thus, the present in silico drug discovery study on some phenolic compounds was designed to evaluate potential mechanisms of action of the antihyperglycemic phytochemicals of <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> leaf extract. The study deployed in silico drug-like studying techniques such as; predicted activity spectra of substances (PASS), molecular docking, prediction of adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), Lipinski’s rule of 5 (PLOP). The study reveals six compounds with good drug-like properties: cLogp, hydrogen bond donor/acceptor (<5/ < 10), and molar refractivity. In addition, ADMET and drug properties like kinase inhibitors, ion channel modulators, and nuclear receptors were positive for the compounds. Each phenolic compound showed one or more antidiabetic activities like insulin promoter, insulin sensitizer and inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Docking result predicted that the phenolic compounds inhibited either α-amylase or α-glucosidase while one of the compounds; 2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-phenol inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase with binding energies of -4.4 and -4.2 kcal/mol against -3.8 and -4.8 kcal/mol by Acarbose. The study revealed that phenolic compounds from <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> leaf possessed drug-like properties, including the ability to interact with α-amylase and α-glucosidase, a vital target protein in the management of diabetes mellitus. The data from the in silico study is a step toward the pharmaceutical discovery of the antidiabetic drug potential of <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> leaf.

Aims: Bambara nut seeds have been reported as a good source of food with high fiber and nutritional contents, and is consumed by persons with diabetes as one of the dietary therapy. However, the plant seeds are of different varieties and whether they might have vary biological effects on renal and liver functions is not fully known. This has prompted the study to evaluate effects of consuming different varieties of Bambara Nut seeds on liver and kidney of both diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Methodology: Four Bambara nut seeds varieties were dehulled and each heated at 60oC, cooled then grounded into flour using a mechanical grinder. The flours were used to formulate feeds which were given to different diabetic and non-diabetic rats’ groups as follows; group A (ALK01 feed), group B (ALK02 feed), group C (ALK03 feed), group D (ALK04 feed), group E (Basal feed), and group F (Normal animal’s feed). The animals were fed for 28 days then sacrifice, blood collected and serum separated and used for hepatic and renal parameters analysis. Results: The results of the study showed decrease levels of serum total protein and albumin, and elevation of AST and ALT activities as well as urea and creatinine concentrations in diabetic rats fed basal and normal diets, whereas, reverse in these parameters were recorded from diabetic rats fed varieties of Bambara nut seeds’ formulated feeds.  Conclusion: Findings from the study suggest consumption of Bambara nut seeds of different varieties is safe and has ability to ameliorate diabetic hepatic and renal failure in a variety dependent manner where; ALK 04 is more likely the most effective.

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Beginning in December 2019 and still ongoing, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections have posed a public health challenge worldwide. There have been reports of diabetes mellitus (DM) as one of the most prevalent comorbidities in patients with COVID-19. Although the interactions and possible mechanisms of this association have not been fully established, the existence of DM is believed to aggravate the adverse effects of COVID-19 infection. Hence, the need for this paper. Findings from other studies have shown different possible mechanisms of how COVID-19 and DM aggravate the severity of each other. Among the hypothetical mechanisms reported between COVID-19 and DM in this paper are: COVID-19 causes complications of DM through the following: (1) Destruction of β-cells in the pancreas by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. (2) Cytokine storm generation which mediates tissue inflammation resulting in organ damage and (3) The use of corticosteroid drugs which have been found to be highly diabetogenic. Similarly, DM facilitates internalizing of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms through increasing expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the furin protein, viral load, entrance and replication of SARS-CoV-2, glycosylation, and compromising of the immune response that worsens COVID-19. Having a clear understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of interactions between COVID-19 and DM may be useful for future research of agents targeted as therapeutic remedies for managing patients with diabetes infected with COVID-19 and vice versa.