Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern of the developing and developed nations across the globe. This devastating disease accounts for the 5% deaths around the world annually. The current treatment methods do not address the underlying causes of the disease and have severe limitations. Stem cells are unique cells with the potential to differentiate into any type of specialized cells. This feature of both adult and embryonic stem cells was explored in great detail by the scientists around the world and are successful in producing insulin secreting cells. The different type of stem cells (induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells) proves to be potent in treating diabetes with certain limitations. This article precisely reviews the resources and progress made in the field of stem cell research for diabetic treatment.

Context: Lycopene is a phytonutrient under considerable investigation for its antioxidant benefits in treating diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and diabetes. Objective: This study explores the effect of lycopene against oxidative damage during experimental hepatitis, induced by D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (D-GalN/LPS). Materials and methods: Experimental rats were pretreated with lycopene intraperitoneally for 6 d (10 mg/kg body weight/day) and then induced by D-GalN/LPS. After induction, the levels of lipid peroxides in serum and liver of control and experimental group of animals were measured. The activities of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase and nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E were also analyzed. The genotoxic effect of D-GalN/LPS was evaluated through the comet assay. Results: The elevated level of lipid peroxides induced by D-GalN/LPS was significantly (p50.05) reverted in lycopene pretreated animals. Lycopene administration restored (p50.05) the decreased activities of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant markers during D-GalN/LPS induction. The DNA strand breaks (72.3 mM) generated during D-GalN/LPS toxic injury was significantly reduced (35.5 mM) upon pretreatment with lycopene as observed by reduced tail movement in comet assay. Discussion and conclusion: There is no conclusive report about lycopene-assisted protection against free radical mediated toxic injury induced by D-GalN/LPS. Our findings reveal that lycopene effectively combated oxidative damage and protected antioxidant defense status of the cell. Pretreatment of lycopene also offers protection against the DNA damage and confirms the antioxidant nature of the phytonutreint against experimental hepatitis.

Objectives: Strawberries contain antioxidant phytochemicals, which have been shown to beneficial against inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, neurodegeneration, hyperglycaemia and associated diabetic complications. Freeze-dried strawberry powder (FSP) is effective in controlling metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the effect of FSP on alloxan-induced diabetes in rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar albino rats by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg bw), and treatment with FSP (700 mg/day for 45 days) was started 48 h after alloxan injection. Blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, haemoglobin, renal function markers (urea, uric acid and creatinine) and enzyme markers (aspartate and alanine transaminases and alkaline phosphatase) were assayed with suitable methods.Results: Animals given alloxan had significant body weight loss, poor glucose tolerance and increased blood glucose with concomitant decreases in insulin, C-peptide and haemoglobin values, and significant (p < 0.05) changes in the levels of renal function markers and enzyme activities. Oral administration of FSP for 45 days significantly (p < 0.05) reverted the body weight loss, hyperglycaemia, biochemical parameters, enzyme activities and insulin levels to near normal levels.Conclusions: FSP can revert alloxan-induced diabetes and its complications. The antioxidant properties of the fruit probably play a major role in the observed changes.