Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy’s Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Potential Effects on Glycaemic Balance in a 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Cell Model

Abstract

Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP) is a common Indian herb, largely employed in Ayurvedic medicine and known for its neuroprotective and neuroinflammatory action. Its effectiveness against several pathologic/sub-pathologic conditions is widely accepted, but it is not yet completely chemically characterized. In recent years, several researchers have pointed out the involvement of CP and other Convolvulaceae in lipidic and glucidic metabolism, particularly in the control of hyperlipidaemia and diabetic conditions. In this scenario, the aim of the study was to chemically characterize the medium polarity part of the CP whole plant and its fractions and to shed light on their biological activity in adipocyte differentiation using the 3T3-L1 cell model. Our results demonstrated that the CP extract and fractions could upregulate the adipocyte differentiation through the modulation of the nuclear receptor PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ), broadly recognized as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation, and the glucose transporter GLUT-4, which is fundamental for cellular glucose uptake and for metabolism control. CP also showed the ability to exert an anti-inflammatory effect, downregulating cytokines such as Rantes, MCP-1, KC, eotaxin, and GM-CSF, which are deeply involved in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Taken together, these data suggest that CP could exert a potential beneficial effect on glycemia and could be employed as an anti-diabetic adjuvant or, in any case, a means to better control glucose homeostasis.

The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Merremia umbellata Extract

“…Comparable outcomes in terms of decreased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators have been reported in LPSstimulated macrophages treated with plant extracts from the same botanical family, such as Convolvulus arvensis L. [24]. Furthermore, other Convolvulus plants, including Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy [25] and Convolvulus fatmensis [26], have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in diverse models, such as adipocyte cell systems and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema models.…”

“…The cells were cultured in 24-well plates at 5 × 10 5 cells/well for 24 h and then treated with or without LPS and different concentrations of MU (25,50, or 100 µg/mL) for 24 h. After treatment, the cells were washed with ice-cold PBS, and total RNA was isolated using TRIzol reagent (15596018, Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA), according to the manufacturers' protocol. The resulting RNA pellet was dissolved in DEPC water, and its purity and concentration were assessed using a NanoDrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA).…”