Hypoglycemic effect of a hot-water extract from defatted sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed on the blood glucose level in genetically diabetic KK-Ay mice. (1/6)

Genetically diabetic (type II) KK-Ay mice, male and 5 weeks of age, were divided into one group of 12 mice that were fed on a basal (BAS) diet and three groups of 6 mice each that were fed on the test diets for 4 weeks. Each test diet contained 4.0% of the hot-water extract (HES) from defatted sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed, 1.4% of the water eluent fraction (WFH) of HES or 0.7% of the methanol eluent fraction (MFH) of HES from a glass column packed with HP-20 resin. At the end of the feeding period, the BAS group was divided into the MAL and MALH groups which were respectively force-fed with 1 ml per mouse of a 20% maltose solution in water with or without 4.0% HES. The plasma glucose concentration and amount of urinary excreted glucose were lower from the HES and MFH diets than from the BAS and WFH diets. The levels of plasma glucose and serum insulin were lower in the MALH group than in the MAL group. These results indicate that HES and MFH had a reductive effect on the plasma glucose concentration of KK-Ay mice, and this effect is suggested to have been caused by the delayed glucose absorption.  (+info)

Steroleosin, a sterol-binding dehydrogenase in seed oil bodies. (2/6)

Besides abundant oleosin, three minor proteins, Sop 1, 2, and 3, are present in sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil bodies. The gene encoding Sop1, named caleosin for its calcium-binding capacity, has recently been cloned. In this study, Sop2 gene was obtained by immunoscreening, and it was subsequently confirmed by amino acid partial sequencing and immunological recognition of its overexpressed protein in Escherichia coli. Immunological cross recognition implies that Sop2 exists in seed oil bodies of diverse species. Along with oleosin and caleosin genes, Sop2 gene was transcribed in maturing seeds where oil bodies are actively assembled. Sequence analysis reveals that Sop2, tentatively named steroleosin, possesses a hydrophobic anchoring segment preceding a soluble domain homologous to sterol-binding dehydrogenases/reductases involved in signal transduction in diverse organisms. Three-dimensional structure of the soluble domain was predicted via homology modeling. The structure forms a seven-stranded parallel beta-sheet with the active site, S-(12X)-Y-(3X)-K, between an NADPH and a sterol-binding subdomain. Sterol-coupling dehydrogenase activity was demonstrated in the overexpressed soluble domain of steroleosin as well as in purified oil bodies. Southern hybridization suggests that one steroleosin gene and certain homologous genes may be present in the sesame genome. Comparably, eight hypothetical steroleosin-like proteins are present in the Arabidopsis genome with a conserved NADPH-binding subdomain, but a divergent sterol-binding subdomain. It is indicated that steroleosin-like proteins may represent a class of dehydrogenases/reductases that are involved in plant signal transduction regulated by various sterols.  (+info)

Dietary sesame seed and its lignans inhibit 2,7,8-trimethyl- 2(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman excretion into urine of rats fed gamma-tocopherol. (3/6)

We showed previously that dietary sesame seed and its lignans elevate the tocopherol concentration in rats. To clarify their effect on tocopherol metabolism, we determined in this study the urinary excretion of 2,7,8-trimethyl-2(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (gamma-CEHC), a gamma-tocopherol metabolite, in rats fed sesame seed or its lignans. Rats were fed diets with or without sesame seed for 28 d in Experiment 1, and for 1, 3 and 7 d in Experiment 2. On d 28, dietary sesame seed elevated (P < 0.05) gamma-tocopherol concentrations in liver, kidney, brain and serum, and decreased (P < 0.05) urinary excretion of gamma-CEHC. The excretion was completely inhibited by feeding sesame seed on d 1 and 3. In Experiment 3, the effects of dietary sesamin and sesaminol (major lignans in sesame seed) or ketoconazole (a selective inhibitor of cytochrome P(450) (CYP)3A on urinary excretion of gamma-CEHC in rats fed gamma-tocopherol were examined. The urinary gamma-CEHC in rats fed sesamin or sesaminol was markedly lower than in rats fed gamma-tocopherol alone (P < 0.05). Dietary ketoconazole also inhibited (P < 0.05) urinary excretion of gamma-CEHC, and elevated (P < 0.05) gamma-tocopherol concentrations in tissues and serum of rats fed gamma-tocopherol. These data suggest that sesame seed and its lignans elevate gamma-tocopherol concentration due to the inhibition of CYP3A-dependent metabolism of gamma-tocopherol.  (+info)

Host plant quality, selection history and trade-offs shape the immune responses of Manduca sexta. (4/6)

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Anti-urolithiatic effect of ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex linn. fruits on ethylene glycol-induced renal calculi. (5/6)

PURPOSE: To evaluate effect of ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex Linn. fruits on experimental model of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided in 6 groups.Normal controls received distilled water for 28 days. Other five groups received ethylene glycol(1% v/v) in distilled water for 28 days. Pedalium murex ethanolic extract was given 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg orally in distilled water for 28 days in prophylactic groups (III and IV) and from 15th to 28th days in treatment groups (V and VI). The urea, creatinine, random blood sugar, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and calcium were measured on 28th day. 24 hr urinary oxalate and volume were measured on day 0 and 28. On day 28, kidneys were removed, weighed and subjected to histopathological examination. Calcium oxalate crystallization was evaluated by renal histopathology and in-vitro method of mineralization.All parameters were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis or one-way ANOVA with post-hoc test. RESULTS: Pedalium murex showed significant improvement in renal function and kidney weight inprophylactic groups as compared to ethylene glycol controls. It did not show any effect on urinary oxalate, urine volume and any other serological parameters. Calcium oxalate crystallization was significantly reduced in all the Pedalium murex treated groups (P < .05). Calcium oxalate and phosphate mineralization were also inhibited by 33% and 57%. CONCLUSION: Ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex fruits possess significant activity for prevention of renal calculi.  (+info)

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects of ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex Linn. fruits. (6/6)

This study investigated the possible anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects of ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex Linn. fruits in selected experimental animal models. Anti-inflammatory activity of Pedalium murex Linn., with doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, p.o., was evaluated by Lambda-carrageenan induced paw oedema in Wistar albino rats; analgesic activity with doses of 280 mg/kg and 560 mg/kg, p.o., was evaluated by hot plate method and acetic acid induced writhing method in Swiss albino mice; and antipyretic activity with doses of 110 mg/kg and 220 mg/kg, p.o., was evaluated in New Zealand white rabbits by injecting gram -ve lipopolysaccharide obtained from E. coli. Results were analysed by one way ANOVA followed by Dunnet's multiple comparison test. Pedalium murex Linn. showed significant anti-inflammatory activity from 15 min to 180 min as compared to vehicle treated animals. It was comparable to diclofenac sodium at 180 min. The extract did not prolong the reaction time on hot plate method but significantly reduced the number of writhing after acetic acid administration. Also the extract did not show any antipyretic activity on lipopolysaccharide induced pyrexia. It is therefore concluded that the ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex Linn. fruits has an anti-inflammatory and peripheral analgesic effects.  (+info)