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<h4>Context</h4>Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes. <i>Moringa oleifera</i> seeds are recognized as a source of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, prompting investigation into their specific components and effects on DN.<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to isolate bioactive compounds from <i>M. oleifera</i> seeds and evaluate their renoprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of action against high-glucose-induced diabetic nephropathy.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Four cyanoglycosides and one cyanoaglycone were isolated from <i>M. oleifera</i> seeds using chromatographic techniques. The renoprotective effects of these compounds were then evaluated using an <i>in vitro</i> model of high-glucose-induced diabetic nephropathy in HBZY-1 mesangial cells. Mechanistic studies further investigated the compounds' effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial function, expression of the glycolysis-related protein PFKFB3, and the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.<h4>Results</h4>Two previously undescribed cyanoglycosides were isolated alongside three known compounds. All five compounds demonstrated significant renoprotective effects in the high-glucose-induced HBZY-1 cell model. Mechanistically, these effects were achieved by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation, protecting mitochondrial function, modulating the expression of the glycolysis-related protein PFKFB3, and inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway, collectively contributing to beneficial metabolic reprogramming.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study isolated two novel cyanoglycosides from <i>M. oleifera</i> seeds. These compounds, alongside known ones, protect against high-glucose-induced renal injury. Their renoprotection involves metabolic reprogramming <i>via</i> suppressing oxidative stress/inflammation, preserving mitochondrial function, modulating PFKFB3, and inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad signaling. These findings offer insights for utilizing <i>M. oleifera</i> seeds and suggest these cyanoglycosides as potential diabetic nephropathy therapeutics.…

PMID: 41466459

<i>Moringa oleifera</i> phytochemicals were predicted to target insulin resistance proteins using a modified network pharmacology and molecular docking approach. Two hundred ninety <i>M. oleifera</i> phytochemicals with their aglycones, acetylase and myrosinase degradation products were compiled from literature and phytochemical databases. Nine protein targets were identified from the intersection of gene lists with high relevance to insulin resistance from GeneCards and DisGeNET and the target genes predicted by reverse screening using Swiss Target Prediction: protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTPN1), 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), PI3-kinase p85-alpha subunit (PIK3R1), insulin receptor (INSR), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and hepatic lipase (LIPC). Binding affinities of phytochemicals with the targets were predicted using Autodock Vina. The predicted binding affinities were classified according to calculated thresholds using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) calculations of binding affinities of: (a) binders (annotated drugs and other molecules with known interaction with each target), and (b) decoys (molecules not expected to bind to a specific target). In addition, ubiquitous phytochemicals were filtered out to differentiate the effect on insulin resistance of <i>M. oleifera</i> from that of other plants. The resulting phytochemical-protein interaction network was visualized using Cytoscape. All mentioned targets, except hepatic lipase, were key targets based on various network centrality measures. Previous studies on murine models have shown that isothiocyanate-rich <i>M. oleifera</i> extracts ameliorate insulin resistance. Using our approach, the following phytochemicals, with predicted moderate bioavailability, high GI absorption, and probable binding with insulin resistance targets, are recommended for further <i>in vivo</i> or <i>in vitro</i> validation for insulin resistance activity: boldione (a steroid); aurantiamide acetate and aurantiamide (peptide derivatives); O-ethyl-[(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methyl] carbamothioate and O-methyl-N-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl] carbamothioate (thiocarbamates); 4α,6α-dihydroxyeudesman-8β,12-olide (a sesquiterpenoid); sanleng acid and tianshic acid (fatty acid derivatives); 2',5,5',7-tetrahydroxyflavone; 2',3,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone; and 6-hydroxykaempferol (flavonoids). By combining network centrality measures of targets, using ROC-derived thresholds for docking energies, and considering ubiquity of phytochemicals, our refined network pharmacology approach may aid in discovering key bioactive phytochemicals as potential chemical markers for standardization and differentiation of an herbal drug.…

PMID: 41884708

This study evaluated the differential effects of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed powders (0.8 g/L) as water supplements on the physiological and immunological responses of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) over six weeks. Leaf supplementation enhanced growth performance (final weight: 120.5 ± 0.7 g & gain% 65.2) and disease resistance, while seed supplementation elicited adverse physiological outcomes. Fish treated with seed powder exhibited reduced growth performance (gain % 11.2), elevated stress markers (glucose: 113.3 ± 3.8 mg/dL; cortisol: 27.4 ± 1.3 μg/dL), and compromised liver function (ALT: 30.2 ± 1.1 U/L; AST: 53.0 ± 1.6 U/L), evident through histological changes. Both treatments modulated immune responses, significantly upregulating pro-inflammatory serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL- 1β, IL- 6) and increasing gene expression in kidney and spleen tissues, with seeds group showing more pronounced elevations (TNF-α: 4.15-fold, IL- 1β: 3.15-fold in spleen) compared to moderate increases in leaves group (TNF-α: 2.48-fold, IL- 1β: 1.62-fold). Oxidant/antioxidant analysis revealed contrasting effects: leaf treatment enhanced superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and reduced lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), while seed treatment compromised SOD defense and increased oxidative biomarker (MDA). Upon challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, leaf-treated fish maintained 100% survival, while seed-treated and control groups showed 85% and 60% survival rates, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of M. oleifera leaf powder as an effective water supplement for enhancing growth and disease resistance in aquaculture, while cautioning against the use of seed powder due to its adverse physiological effects.…

PMID: 40329297

PMID: 41575697

This study evaluated the differential effects of Moringa oleifera leaf and seed powders (0.8 g/L) as water supplements on the physiological and immunological responses of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) over six weeks. Leaf supplementation enhanced growth performance (final weight: 120.5 ± 0.7 g & gain% 65.2) and disease resistance, while seed supplementation elicited adverse physiological outcomes. Fish treated with seed powder exhibited reduced growth performance (gain % 11.2), elevated stress markers (glucose: 113.3 ± 3.8 mg/dL; cortisol: 27.4 ± 1.3 μg/dL), and compromised liver function (ALT: 30.2 ± 1.1 U/L; AST: 53.0 ± 1.6 U/L), evident through histological changes. Both treatments modulated immune responses, significantly upregulating pro-inflammatory serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL- 1β, IL- 6) and increasing gene expression in kidney and spleen tissues, with seeds group showing more pronounced elevations (TNF-α: 4.15-fold, IL- 1β: 3.15-fold in spleen) compared to moderate increases in leaves group (TNF-α: 2.48-fold, IL- 1β: 1.62-fold). Oxidant/antioxidant analysis revealed contrasting effects: leaf treatment enhanced superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and reduced lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), while seed treatment compromised SOD defense and increased oxidative biomarker (MDA). Upon challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila, leaf-treated fish maintained 100% survival, while seed-treated and control groups showed 85% and 60% survival rates, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of M. oleifera leaf powder as an effective water supplement for enhancing growth and disease resistance in aquaculture, while cautioning against the use of seed powder due to its adverse physiological effects.…

PMID: 40329297

The prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) has been consistently increasing worldwide. Sharing powerful genetic and environmental features in their pathogenesis, obesity amplifies the impact of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors on DM. The ectopic expansion of adipose tissue and excessive accumulation of certain nutrients and metabolites sabotage the metabolic balance via insulin resistance, dysfunctional autophagy, and microbiome-gut-brain axis, further exacerbating the dysregulation of immunometabolism through low-grade systemic inflammation, leading to an accelerated loss of functional β-cells and gradual elevation of blood glucose. Given these intricate connections, most available treatments of obesity and type 2 DM (T2DM) have a mutual effect on each other. For example, anti-obesity drugs can be anti-diabetic to some extent, and some anti-diabetic medicines, in contrast, have been shown to increase body weight, such as insulin. Meanwhile, surgical procedures, especially bariatric surgery, are more effective for both obesity and T2DM. Besides guaranteeing the availability and accessibility of all the available diagnostic and therapeutic tools, more clinical and experimental investigations on the pathogenesis of these two diseases are warranted to improve the efficacy and safety of the available and newly developed treatments.…

PMID: 37152942

Genetic, environmental, and metabolic risk factors are interrelated and contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A strong family history of diabetes mellitus, age, obesity, and physical inactivity identify those individuals at highest risk. Minority populations are also at higher risk, not only because of family history and genetics, but also because of adaptation to American environmental influences of poor dietary and exercise habits. Women with a history of gestational diabetes as well as their children are at greater risk for progressing to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance increases a person's risk for developing impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Individuals who have insulin resistance share many of the same risk factors as those with type 2 diabetes. These include hyperinsulinemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension, prothrombic state, hyperuricemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Current interventions for the prevention and retardation of type 2 diabetes mellitus are those targeted towards modifying environmental risk factors such as reducing obesity and promoting physical activity. Awareness of risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes will promote screening, early detection, and treatment in high-risk populations with the goal of decreasing both microvascular and macrovascular complications.…

PMID: 11800065

Epigenetic mechanisms control gene activity and the development of an organism. The epigenome includes DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-mediated processes, and disruption of this balance may cause several pathologies and contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This Review summarizes epigenetic signatures obtained from human tissues of relevance for metabolism-i.e., adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, pancreatic islets, liver, and blood-in relation to obesity and T2D. Although this research field is still young, these comprehensive data support not only a role for epigenetics in disease development, but also epigenetic alterations as a response to disease. Genetic predisposition, as well as aging, contribute to epigenetic variability, and several environmental factors, including exercise and diet, further interact with the human epigenome. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications holds promise for future therapeutic strategies in obesity and T2D.…

PMID: 30982733

The epidemic rise in obesity has fuelled the current debate over its classification as a disease. Contrary to just being a medical condition or risk factor for other diseases, obesity is a complex disease of multifaceted aetiology, with its own disabling capacities, pathophysiologies and comorbidities. It meets the medical definition of disease in that it is a physiological dysfunction of the human organism with environmental, genetic and endocrinological aetiologies. It is a response to environmental stimuli, genetic predisposition and abnormalities, and has a characteristic set of signs and symptoms with consistent anatomical alterations. Excess adipose tissue increases the work of the heart and leads to anatomical changes in this organ. It alters pulmonary, endocrine and immunological functions, all with adverse effects on health. Some of the complications of obesity include cardiovascular disease, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and cancer. Given the excess mortality, substantial morbidity and the economic toll of obesity, this is a disease that warrants serious attention by the medical community. Obesity's status and acceptance as a disease is pivotal in determining its treatment, reimbursement for treatment and the development of widespread interventions.…

PMID: 15245383

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a dominant component of the modern diet, paralleling the rise in obesity and chronic disease prevalence worldwide. This narrative review aims to synthesize evidence on how dietary processing and UPF consumption interacts with dietary quality, energy balance, and biological pathways to influence metabolic health. <b>Methods:</b> We performed a targeted literature search of peer-reviewed articles and authoritative reports examining UPF definition (via the NOVA classification), global consumption patterns, behavioral drivers of overconsumption, nutrient composition, and mechanistic links to metabolic dysfunction. Emphasis was placed on recent human and animal research relating UPFs to obesity, cardiometabolic outcomes, inflammation and gut microbiome alterations. <b>Results:</b> High UPF intake is consistently associated with reduced diet quality (higher saturated fat, sugar, sodium; lower fiber and micronutrients), increased energy density, faster eating rates and activation of reward pathways. These factors facilitate excessive energy intake and adiposity, promoting metabolic dysregulation, chronic low-grade inflammation, hormonal disturbances and gut microbiome shifts. While cross-sectional and cohort evidence is extensive, causal intervention trials and mechanistic human work remain limited. <b>Conclusions:</b> The accumulated evidence suggests that UPFs may influence chronic disease risk through their unbalanced nutrient profiles and through additional effects introduced by industrial processing. To translate these insights into public health strategies, future work should prioritize real-world intervention studies to reduce UPF consumption and examine resulting effects on energy balance, inflammation and gut health.…

PMID: 41441026

7-Ketocholesterol (7-KC) is a biologically active oxysterol formed through the oxidation of cholesterol, predominantly under conditions of oxidative stress. It is generated both enzymatically in specific tissues such as the brain and liver, and non-enzymatically via reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially in aging tissues and heat-processed animal-derived foods. 7-KC exerts multifaceted effects on human health, extending beyond lipid metabolism to disrupt glucose and amino acid utilization, impair mitochondrial function, and provoke endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. These disturbances contribute to chronic inflammation and oxidative damage, playing pivotal roles in the development of various diseases, including atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, cancer, hepatic steatosis, and ocular and gastrointestinal pathologies. Additionally, 7-KC is a marker of cholesterol oxidation in the food industry, where it signals product degradation and potential toxicity in long-stored or thermally processed animal-based foods. This review explores the biosynthesis, metabolic fate, and pathophysiological role of 7-KC, highlighting its critical role in intermediary metabolism, disease progression, and food safety. Furthermore, it outlines mitigation strategies to reduce 7-KC exposure through dietary modifications, antioxidant interventions, and advanced food processing technologies aimed at enhancing public health.…

PMID: 40915548

Chronic diseases as well as complications to acute and chronic disease are repeatedly associated with accumulation in the body of glycated and lipoxidated proteins and peptides. These molecules are strongly associated with activation of a specific receptor called RAGE and a long-lasting exaggerated level of inflammation in the body. PubMed reports in excess of 5000 papers plus about 14000 articles about the related HbA 1c , most of them published in the last five years. Most of available abstracts have been read and circa 800 full papers studied in detail. RAGE, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface molecules and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, functions as a master switch, induces sustained activation of NF-kappaB, suppresses a series of endogenous autoregulatory functions and converts long-lasting pro-inflammatory signals into sustained cellular dysfunction and disease. Its activation is associated with high levels of dysfunctioning proteins in body fluids and tissues, and strongly associated with a series of diseases from allergy and Alzheimer to rheumatoid arthritis and urogenital disorders. Heat-treatment, irradiation and ionisation of foods increase the content in foods of AGE/ALE. Some processed foods are much like tobacco smoking great contributors to accumulation of glycated and lipoxidated molecules in the tissues. Change of life style: avoidance of foods rich in deranged proteins and peptides and increased consumption of antioxidants, especially polyphenols counteracts such a development.…

PMID: 18426758

It now appears that, in most obese patients, obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue (WAT) resulting from chronic activation of the innate immune system and which can subsequently lead to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and even diabetes. WAT is the physiological site of energy storage as lipids. In addition, it has been more recently recognized as an active participant in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. In obesity, WAT is characterized by an increased production and secretion of a wide range of inflammatory molecules including TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which may have local effects on WAT physiology but also systemic effects on other organs. Recent data indicate that obese WAT is infiltrated by macrophages, which may be a major source of locally-produced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, weight loss is associated with a reduction in the macrophage infiltration of WAT and an improvement of the inflammatory profile of gene expression. Several factors derived not only from adipocytes but also from infiltrated macrophages probably contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Most of them are overproduced during obesity, including leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and resistin. Conversely, expression and plasma levels of adiponectin, an insulin-sensitising effector, are down-regulated during obesity. Leptin could modulate TNF-alpha production and macrophage activation. TNF-alpha is overproduced in adipose tissue of several rodent models of obesity and has an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in these species. However, its actual involvement in glucose metabolism disorders in humans remains controversial. IL-6 production by human adipose tissue increases during obesity. It may induce hepatic CRP synthesis and may promote the onset of cardiovascular complications. Both TNF-alpha and IL-6 can alter insulin sensitivity by triggering different key steps in the insulin signalling pathway. In rodents, resistin can induce insulin resistance, while its implication in the control of insulin sensitivity is still a matter of debate in humans. Adiponectin is highly expressed in WAT, and circulating adiponectin levels are decreased in subjects with obesity-related insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. Adiponectin inhibits liver neoglucogenesis and promotes fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. In addition, adiponectin counteracts the pro-inflammatory effects of TNF-alpha on the arterial wall and probably protects against the development of arteriosclerosis. In obesity, the pro-inflammatory effects of cytokines through intracellular signalling pathways involve the NF-kappaB and JNK systems. Genetic or pharmacological manipulations of these effectors of the inflammatory response have been shown to modulate insulin sensitivity in different animal models. In humans, it has been suggested that the improved glucose tolerance observed in the presence of thiazolidinediones or statins is likely related to their anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it can be considered that obesity corresponds to a sub-clinical inflammatory condition that promotes the production of pro-inflammatory factors involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.…

PMID: 16613757

Clinical and pathophysiological studies have shown type 2 diabetes to be a condition mainly caused by excess, yet reversible, fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas. Within the liver, excess fat worsens hepatic responsiveness to insulin, leading to increased glucose production. Within the pancreas, the β cell seems to enter a survival mode and fails to function because of the fat-induced metabolic stress. Removal of excess fat from these organs via substantial weight loss can normalise hepatic insulin responsiveness and, in the early years post-diagnosis, is associated with β-cell recovery of acute insulin secretion in many individuals, possibly by redifferentiation. Collectively, these changes can normalise blood glucose levels. Importantly, the primary care-based Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) showed that 46% of people with type 2 diabetes could achieve remission at 12 months, and 36% at 24 months, mediated by weight loss. This major change in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease permits a reassessment of advice for people with type 2 diabetes.…

PMID: 31097391

Bariatric operations induce weight loss, which is associated with an improvement in hepatic steatosis and a reduction in hepatic glucose production. It is not clear whether these outcomes are entirely due to weight loss, or whether the new anatomy imposed by the surgery contributes to the improvement in the metabolic function of the liver. We performed vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) on obese mice provided with a high-fat high-sucrose diet and compared them to diet and weight-matched sham-operated mice (WMS). At 40 days after surgery, VSG-operated mice displayed less hepatic steatosis compared with WMS. By measuring the fasting glucose and insulin levels in the blood vessels feeding and draining the liver, we showed directly that hepatic glucose production was suppressed after VSG. Insulin levels were elevated in the portal vein, and hepatic insulin clearance was elevated in VSG-operated mice. The hepatic expression of genes associated with insulin clearance was upregulated. We repeated the experiment in lean mice and observed that portal insulin and glucagon are elevated, but only insulin clearance is increased in VSG-operated mice. In conclusion, direct measurement of glucose and insulin in the blood entering and leaving the liver shows that VSG affects glucose and insulin metabolism through mechanisms independent of weight loss and diet.…

PMID: 34341005