Scorzonera species are used for treating various diseases. They are consumed raw, especially in the spring, and have nutritious and dietetic values. This study evaluated the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of ethanolic extracts of Scorzonera cinerea (Sc) radical leaves in diabetes mellitus. Five random groups of Wistar rats (n = 8) were created – control, diabetic, acarbose, Sc-Dried, and Sc-Frozen. Phenolic profiles of extracts were determined by HPLC. Free radical scavenging capacity was measured using DPPH and ABTS tests. The inhibitory effects of Sc extracts on α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities were also evaluated. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities, glutathione (GSH) concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) were analyzed in the liver tissues. While dried Scorzonera extract was more effective in α-amylase inhibitory activity, frozen Scorzonera extract was more effective in α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Sc-Dried and Sc-Frozen extracts lowered blood glucose and HbA1c levels, they also increased insulin. Although liver MDA and TOS were significantly increased in the diabetic group, their values were significantly lower in the Sc-Dried- and Sc-Frozen-treated groups. GSH, TAS, and anti-oxidant enzyme activities decreased in the diabetic group, but Sc-Dried and Sc-Frozen supplements significantly enhanced liver antioxidant values. In conclusion, S. cinerea treatment exerts potential hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects in diabetes. Thus, it can be considered as a candidate dietary supplement for health benefits in diabetes.

Olive leaf has natural bioactive compounds, mainly oleuropein, that are widely considered to have potentially beneficial effects on health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of olive leaf extract (OLE) on the inhibition of carbohydrate digestive enzymes, and immunohistochemical study of insulin in the pancreas of in vivo streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, and an immunohistochemical study were performed at the end of the experiment. In the OLE treated group, blood glucose levels and HbA1c significantly decreased while insulin levels increased. Besides this, OLE treated group showed remarkable inhibitory activities on α-amylase and α-glucosidase compared with the Acarbose treated group. It was observed that OLE exhibited partial positive immunoreaction for insulin in β-cells through immunohistochemical analysis. Considering that OLE is more tolerable for digestion system compared to acarbose, it may be a better fitoformulation for antidiabetic medications. OLE could offer an additional beneficial effect for the treatment of diabetes.

Purpose: To determine the preventive effects of vitamin E and melatonin against acute copper toxicity in rats. Methods: A total of 28 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: control, copper sulfate, copper sulfate + vitamin E, and copper sulfate + melatonin. The following were analyzed in all groups: serum enzymes; activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), protein carbonyl (PC) content. Liver histopathology was also evaluated. Results: PC levels decreased in rats administered copper sulfate/vitamin E and copper sulfate/melatonin. The activities of SOD, GPx and CAT increased significantly with melatonin and vitamin E administration when compared with administration of copper sulfate alone. Histopathologic features revealed severe degeneration and necrotic changes in rats administered copper sulfate alone. These changes were observed to a lesser extent in the copper sulfate + melatonin group and only minimally in the copper sulfate + vitamin E group. Conclusion: Vitamin E and melatonin are protective against liver damage caused by copper. Vitamin E, and melatonin may strengthen the antioxidant defense system by inhibiting protein oxidation and enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Diabetes Mellitus is a global health problem that leads to macro-and microvascular diseases associated with hyperglycemia. Phytotherapy is one of the alternative ways to cope with this type of disease. The genus Ornithogalum is consumed as a wild edible plant and traditionally used for ailments. This study aims to investigate the phenolic composition using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography as well as antioxidant and antidiabetic effects using spectrophotometric method of Ornithogalum lanceolatum L. aerial parts and bulb. In order to determine the antioxidant capacity total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities were analyzed in O. lanceolatum. Moreover, in vitro inhibitory effects of the O. lanceolatum aerial parts and bulb on digestive enzymes were determined by evaluating the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Protocatechuic acid was found to be the main compound in both plant parts. However, the amounts of the total phenolic acids and flavonoids were found higher in the aerial parts than those in bulb as well. Furthermore, O. lanceolatum aerial parts exhibited more radical scavenging activity than bulb. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase IC50 inhibition activities of aerial parts were found more efficient than those for bulb. It can be concluded that O. lanceolatum can enhance the antioxidant status and also can prevent nutraceutically postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. These findings reveal the importance of traditional remedies in the ethnopharmacological use of herbs.

Bu çalışma, değişik oranlardaki zeytin yaprağı ekstraktının (Olive Leaf Extract-OLE) ve infüzyonunun streptozosin ile oluşturulmuş deneysel diyabetik sıçanların bazı biyokimyasal ve hematolojik parametreleri üzerine olası koruyucu etkisini araştırmak amacıyla planlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, 56 adet Wistar albino sıçan rastgele 7 gruba ayrıldı (n=8). 21 günlük deneme sonunda biyokimyasal ve hematolojik analizleri yapıldı. OLE uygulanan grupların hepsinde RBC'ler istatiksel anlamda etkilenmezken, HBG, HCT, MCV'nin pozitif yönde etkilendiği görüldü (p<0,05). Diyabet+OLE-50 ve OLE-100 gruplarında WBC'ler, kontrol grubuna göre, anlamlı şekilde gerilerken (p<0,05), OLE-25 grubunda değişim gözlenmedi. Diyabet+OLE-25 grubunun kolesterol değerlerinde, kontrol grubuna göre, anlamlı bir düşüş gözlenirken (p<0,05), diyabet+OLE-100 grubundaki artış istatiksel düzeyde önemliydi (p<0,05). Diyabet+OLE-50 grubundaki artış anlamlı değildi. Diyabet+OLE-25, diyabet+OLE-50 ve diyabet+OLE-100 gruplarında, trigliserid diyabet grubuna göre anlamlı derecede düşmüştü (p<0,05). İnfüzyon uygulanan diyabetli grupta RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MPV, PDW ve EOS pozitif yönde anlamlı şekilde artmıştı (p<0,05). İnfüzyon trigliserid, LDL, Cl ve Na'u negatif yönde, HDL, Mg ve P'u pozitif yönde etkilediği belirlendi. OLE uygulanan gruplar içerisinde kolesterol ve trigliserid üzerine en etkili dozun OLE-25 mg/kg olduğu gözlendi. İnfüzyonun ise, HDL'yi pozitif yönde, LDL'yi de negatif yönde anlamlı şekilde etkilediği görüldü. Aynı şekilde kolesteroldeki düşüşün istatistiksel olarak önemsiz, trigliseritdeki düşüşün ise istatistiksel olarak önemli olduğu yönünde bulgular elde edildi.