Trigonelline: A Plant Alkaloid with Therapeutic Potential for Diabetes and Central Nervous System Disease

Abstract

There is evidence that Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek), a traditional Chinese herb, and its components are beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and central nervous system disease. The pharmacological activities of trigonelline, a major alkaloid component of fenugreek, have been more thoroughly evaluated than fenugreek's other components, especially with regard to diabetes and central nervous system disease. Trigonelline has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, antimigraine, sedative, memory-improving, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumor activities, and it has been shown to reduce diabetic auditory neuropathy and platelet aggregation. It acts by affecting β cell regeneration, insulin secretion, activities of enzymes related to glucose metabolism, reactive oxygen species, axonal extension, and neuron excitability. However, further study of trigonelline's pharmacological activities and exact mechanism is warranted, along with application of this knowledge to its clinical usage. This review aims to give readers a survey of the pharmacological effects of trigonelline, especially in diabetes, diabetic complications and central nervous system disease. In addition, because of its pharmacological value and low toxicity, the reported adverse effects of trigonelline in experimental animal models and humans are briefly reviewed, and the pharmacokinetics of trigonelline are also discussed.

1H NMR and GC–MS based metabolomics reveal nano-Cu altered cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit nutritional supply

“…MNA displayed a profile of antithrombotic activity in vivo (Chlopicki et al, 2007). Trigonelline (down-regulated) is a plant hormone (Evans and Tramontano, 1981) which has been reported as having therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and central nervous system disease (Zhou et al, 2012). Quinolinate (down-regulated) studies (Guillemin, 2012) showed that quinolinic acid has toxic effects, e.g., inducing mood depression.…”

In silico physico-chemical evaluation, anti-inflammatory and mcf-7 breast cancer cell line growth inhibition effects of trolline isolated from Mirabilis jalapa

“…In Nigeria, it is locally known as Tonaposo in Yoruba language (Elufioye et al, 2012) while in Pakistan, it is called Gul-abbas (Dhar et al, 1968). Phytochemical investigation reveals the presence of β-sitosterol, ursolic acid, amino acids, β-stigmasterol (Singh and Mittal, 2012), phytol (Siddiqui et al, 1994) in the aerial parts while rotenoids (Xu et al, 2010) and trigonelline (Zhou et al, 2012) alkaloid have been characterized from the roots. The plant is known to possess medicinal properties across different cultures.…”

“…Extracts of the aerial parts are also used as purgative and in the treatment of dysentery (Encarnacion et al, 1998) and diarrhea (Holdsworth, 1992;Comerford, 1996). In Chinese traditional medicine, the root of this plant is used as an anti-diabetic (Zhou et al, 2012). Several literature reports on scientific studies on various parts of the plant suggest the presence of clinically important pharmacologic properties (as claimed), including antibacterial (Eneji et al, 2011), anti-viral (Wong et al, 1992, anti-inflammatory (Nath et al, 2010) and treatment for dysentery (Shaik et al, 2012).…”

“…Several literature reports on scientific studies on various parts of the plant suggest the presence of clinically important pharmacologic properties (as claimed), including antibacterial (Eneji et al, 2011), anti-viral (Wong et al, 1992, anti-inflammatory (Nath et al, 2010) and treatment for dysentery (Shaik et al, 2012). Importantly, bioguided isolation of small molecules from M. jalapa have also been demonstrated to have clinically important properties including trigonelline (Zhou et al, 2012) and boravinone rotenoids (Xu et al, 2010) isolated from the roots of this plant were shown to have anti-diabetic and in vitro anticancer activities, respectively.…”

Chemical Constituents and Biological Properties of Species of the Genus Serjania

“…18 Há evid ias de ue o fe o-g ego e seus componentes são benéficos na prevenção e tratamento da diabetes e de doenças do sistema nervoso central. 19 O principal alcaloide desta espécie é a trigonelina, sobre a qual, também foi reportada diversas atividades, como hipoglicêmica, hipolipidêmica, neuroprotetora, antienxaqueca, sedativa, antibacteriana, A N-etil-L-prolina (1), trigonelina (2) e betaína (3) são consideradas de importância ecológica. A sua acumulação em plantas faz parte de um mecanismo de adaptação em resposta ao estresse osmótico (osmoprotetores), incluindo estresse por déficit de água e por níveis altos de salinidade.…”