Objective: To evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities of the aqueous preparation of Kalanchoe pinnata (K. pinnata) leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by a single administration of streptozotocin (60 mg/Kg). Diabetic rats were then treated with aqueous K. pinnata for 30 d. Serum glucose, proteins, lipid composition, liver and kidney function indices, inflammatory markers, and key enzymes of hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were determined. Results: The untreated and treated diabetic groups lost weight and consumed less food compared to the normal group. We noted 37.9% decrease in fasting blood glucose in the treated diabetic group compared to 13.2% and 17.0% increases in normal and untreated diabetic groups respectively. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the treated diabetic group compared to the untreated diabetic group. Blood urea nitrogen was significantly (P<0.05) elevated in the untreated and treated diabetic groups compared to the normal group. Serum alkaline phosphatase and hepatic pyruvate kinase activities were significantly (P<0.05) elevated in the treated diabetic group. Serum albumin level was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the untreated diabetic group. Serum IL-6 was significantly (P<0.05) depressed in the treated diabetic group. Conclusions: The observed decrease in body weight, blood glucose and cholesterol level suggests that the aqueous K. pinnata preparation consumption may be beneficial in the management of diabetes mellitus. The observed adverse effect on alkaline phosphatase activity may be due to the combined effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and K. pinnata preparation administration.

OBJECTIVELigusticum porteri is a traditional Native American herb. The roots of L. porteri are traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases, however, its cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects need to be investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the root extract at different doses on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs).

METHODSThe lymphocytes were incubated with different concentrations of the root extracts (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) and harvested every 6 h for 2 d (P<0.05). The protective effect of the herb against oxidative damage was determined by inducing oxidative stress with the administration of 50 μmol/L of hydrogen peroxide (HO).

RESULTSTreatments with L. porteri at 200 and 400 μg/mL increased the viability of PBLs. The deleterious effect of HOwas ameliorated by 400 μg/mL L. porteri treatment. Addition of 400 μg/mL L. porteri reduced lipid peroxidation in stressed PBLs by 94% (P<0.05). Treatment with 400 μg/mL of L. porteri resulted in a 26.4% increase of reduced glutathione levels. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased by 17.5% and 55.2% respectively, when stressed PBLs were treated with 400 μg/mL L. porteri for 2 d (P<0.05). Treatment with 400 μg/mL L. porteri increased interferon-γ and interleukin-2 expressions in HO-challenged PBLs (P<0.05), however, the root extract did not cause a significant difference in interleukin-10 levels compared to the control (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that L. porteri might be a potential immune-modulating agent involving protective effects against oxidative damage.