This review evaluates almost two decades of epidemiological and experimental studies investigating the link between DEHP exposure and type 2 diabetes. Further research is required to comprehend the implications of the proposed association in humans.

Mimusops zeyheri Sond. And Aloe marlothii A.Berger are used traditionally in South Africa to manage many diseases, including diabetes mellitus. The mechanism through which these extracts exert blood glucose lowering is not well understood or reported. This study was aimed at assessing M. zeyheri and A. marlothii plant extracts for their potential to exhibit antidiabetic activity and their associated mechanisms. We evaluated the action of both extracts on major genes involved in the insulin signalling pathways in skeletal muscle cells. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of M. zeyheri and A. marlothii extracts were evaluated using the MTT assay and glucose uptake was evaluated using a glucose oxidase assay. The amount of translocated GLUT-4 was determined using the flow cytometry. Conventional PCR was used to determine the expression of GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 and RT-qPCR. IRS-1 total protein and Phospho-Akt were determined using ELISA. Plant extracts stimulated glucose absorption by skeletal muscle cells. M. zeyheri extract increased glucose absorption in muscle cells after 1 and 3 h of incubation. A 2-fold increase in translocated GLUT-4 was noted with M. zeyheri. The mRNA levels of GLUT-4 and GLUT-1 remained uniform in all treatments, while IRS-1, PI3K, Akt1, Akt2, and PPAR-γ were downregulated by both extracts. The expression of GLUT-4 was significantly increased by the action of insulin and M. zeyheri extract at 500 μg/mL. This study validates the traditional use of aqueous extracts of A. marlothii and M. zeyheri as hypoglycaemic plants and raises the assertion that the selected plant extracts utilise the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway.

The present study reported the effects of Sclerocarya birrea stem-bark (SBSB) extracts on glucose uptake, insulin synthesis and the expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), glucokinase, pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (MafA) and pre-proinsulin genes in rat insulinoma (RIN)-m5F pancreatic beta cells. The amount of glucose takenup by RIN-m5F cells was measured using a glucose oxidase-based assay kit. Intracellular and secreted insulin were measured using an enzyme linked immunoassay kit. Pre-proinsulin gene expression was determined using the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, while the expressions of GLUT2, glucokinase, PDX-1 and MafA genes were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR technique. Of the four SBSB extracts investigated in the study, only the SBSB hexane extract positively affected all the study variables in RIN-m5F cells compared with the DMSO control. Thus, the SBSB hexane extract contains phytochemicals capable of enhancing insulin synthesis partly through up-regulation of the expression of GLUT2, glucokinase, PDX-1, MafA and pre-proinsulin genes.

Epididymal sperm preservation provides an alternative means of utilizing valuable bull genetic material when conventional semen collection is not possible. However, sperm quality declines during liquid storage, partly due to oxidative stress and the absence of protective seminal plasma components. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of hexane Pelargonium graveolens extract in Vero cells and its effects on the quality of liquid-preserved bull epididymal sperm. Cytotoxicity of the extract was first assessed in Vero cells using the MTT assay. Subsequently, twenty bull testes were collected from a local abattoir, and epididymal spermatozoa were recovered by retrograde flushing. Samples were diluted in a Tris-based extender containing 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 mg/mL hexane Pelargonium graveolens extract and stored at 5°C for 120 hours. Sperm motility and kinematic parameters were evaluated at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours using the Sperm Class Analyzer® system. Data were analysed using the General Linear Model procedure. The extract reduced MTT-derived Vero-cell viability, with the lowest mean viability (5.28%) at 2.5 mg/mL; the response across intermediate concentrations was not consistently monotonic. At 120 hours, the 5 mg/mL treatment recorded the highest total sperm motility (87.52 ± 4.49%) and differed from the control (59.42 ± 4.49%), whereas the 2.5, 7.5 and 10 mg/mL treatments did not differ from the control. Non-progressive motility did not differ among treatments. These results suggest that, at optimal concentrations 5 mg/mL hexane Pelargonium graveolens extract can serve as a natural epididymal sperm additive, while higher concentrations (10 mg/mL) appeared less effective in preserving sperm quality, highlighting the importance of dose optimization. Future studies should investigate extracts prepared using solvents of different polarity to determine whether additional bioactive compounds further improve sperm preservation. Moreover, identifying and optimizing specific compounds could help determine those that are both safe and effective for bull epididymal sperm preservation.

Although medicinal plants possess vast biological properties, crude medicinal plant extracts often show limited therapeutic efficacy due to poor aqueous solubility, instability, and inadequate bioavailability, which restricts efficient intracellular delivery. As cancer is a genetic disease requiring intracellular and nuclear targeting, improved delivery systems are essential. Warburgia salutaris is traditionally used in Southern Africa and possesses reported anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its crude extracts exhibit suboptimal delivery characteristics. This study comparatively evaluated the anticancer effects of unencapsulated (WSN) and liposomal-encapsulated (WSE) crude leaf extracts, with emphasis on apoptotic mechanisms. Liposomal formulation was confirmed by FTIR, PXRD, and DLS, yielding stable nanoparticles (159.4 nm; PDI 0.114; +79.3 mV). Both WSN and WSE demonstrated efficacy, concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC50 < 0.0195 mg/mL) with minimal toxicity toward Vero kidney cells and Raw 264.7 macrophages. Mechanistically, WSN induced rapid cytotoxicity with necrotic features, whereas WSE promoted regulated apoptosis. Apoptosis was validated by DAPI/PI staining, Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 measured with RT-PCR and proteome profiling array confirming activation of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Both extracts also reduced LPS-induced ROS production. LC-MS identified multiple bioactive phytochemicals. Overall, liposomal encapsulation enhanced therapeutic precision, stability, and selectivity cytotoxicity, supporting its development as a nanomedicine-based anticancer strategy.

Although medicinal plants possess vast biological properties, crude medicinal plant extracts often show limited therapeutic efficacy due to poor aqueous solubility, instability, and inadequate bioavailability, which restricts efficient intracellular delivery. As cancer is a genetic disease requiring intracellular and nuclear targeting, improved delivery systems are essential. Warburgia salutaris is traditionally used in Southern Africa and possesses reported anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its crude extracts exhibit suboptimal delivery characteristics. This study comparatively evaluated the anticancer effects of unencapsulated (WSN) and liposomal-encapsulated (WSE) crude leaf extracts, with emphasis on apoptotic mechanisms. Liposomal formulation was confirmed by FTIR, PXRD, and DLS, yielding stable nanoparticles (159.4 nm; PDI 0.114; +79.3 mV). Both WSN and WSE demonstrated efficacy and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC₅₀ < 0.0195 mg/mL) with minimal toxicity toward Vero kidney cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Mechanistically, WSN induced rapid cytotoxicity with necrotic features, whereas WSE promoted regulated apoptosis. Apoptosis was validated by DAPI/PI staining, Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 measured with RT-PCR and proteome profiling array, confirming activation of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Both extracts also reduced LPS-induced ROS production. LC-MS identified multiple bioactive phytochemicals. Overall, liposomal encapsulation enhanced therapeutic precision, stability, and selectivity cytotoxicity, supporting its development as a nanomedicine-based anticancer strategy.