Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species in Vascular Complications of Diabetes: Therapeutic Properties of Medicinal Plants and Food

Abstract

The rising prevalence of chronic metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, most notably associated with cardiovascular diseases, has emerged as a major global health concern. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play physiological functions by maintaining normal cellular redox signaling. By contrast, a disturbed balance occurring between ROS production and detoxification of reactive intermediates results in excessive oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a critical mediator of endothelial dysfunction in obesity and diabetes. Under a hyperglycemic condition, the antioxidant enzymes are downregulated, resulting in an increased generation of ROS. Increases in ROS lead to impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatations by reducing NO bioavailability. Chronic treatments with antioxidants were reported to prevent the development of endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients and animals; however, the beneficial effects of antioxidant treatment in combating vascular complications in diabetes remain controversial as antioxidants do not always reverse endothelial dysfunction in clinical settings. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in research focused on the role of ROS in vascular complications of diabetes and the antioxidant properties of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and food in animal experiments and clinical studies to provide insights for the development of therapeutic strategies.

Ginsenoside Rk1 improves endothelial function in diabetes through activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors

“…It is well known that ROS plays a crucial role in vascular complications in diabetes. 39 We herein showed that the ROS level was elevated in aortas from DIO mice and in HG-induced RAECs and ginsenoside Rk1 significantly suppressed ROS production. Ginsenoside Rk1 upregulated the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1, implying the role of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in its anti-oxidative effect.…”

Field perturbation facilitates parallel electron paramagnetic resonance detection

“…For example, the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) found in plants and mammals with EPR, which can reveal types and quantities of ROS, provides crucial findings for the interaction between ROSs and pathogens [1][2][3] . The application of ROS detection stretches to tumor 4 , cancer 5 and diabetes studies 6 . Another stream for EPR spectroscopy in the junction of spin trapping and spin labeling creates a powerful tool to reveal the structure and the conformational dynamics of proteins.…”

Vascular Responses following Light Therapy: A Pilot Study with Healthy Volunteers

“…Moreover, smoking increases cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, but decreases HDL [ 3 ]. The status of diabetes increases the level of oxygen radicals and reduces the level and bioavailability of NO, which decreases the elasticity and narrowing of blood vessels [ 4 ].…”