This study was undertaken to determine the phenolic compounds and the anti-atherogenic effect of bee bread in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. The presence of phenolic compounds in bee bread was determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, (n = 8/group); i.e., Normal (N), HFD (high-fat diet), HFD + BB (high-fat diet and 0.5 g/kg/day bee bread), and HFD + O (high-fat diet and 10 mg/kg/day orlistat) groups. After 6 weeks of the experiment, rats were sacrificed. Five phenolic compounds were identified in bee bread; namely, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol, apigenin, and isorhamnetin. Bee bread significantly reduced Lee obesity index and levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity, atherogenic index, oxidised-LDL (oxLDL), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and significantly increased aortic antioxidant activities, such as those of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Adipocyte sizes were found to be smaller in the HFD + BB group compared to the N group, and en face aortas showed an absence of atherosclerotic plaque in rats supplemented with bee bread. These changes might suggest an anti-atherogenic effect of bee bread in HFD-induced obese rats via its antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic properties.

Bee bread samples of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) collected from Kelantan (east coast), Selangor (central) and Perak (northern) regions of Malaysia were subjected to nutritional analysis using standard hydrolysis and oxidation methods. Phytochemical screening was carried out on aqueous and ethanol extracts of bee bread. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing activity of the extracts were also assessed. All samples had essential and non-essential amino acids, carbohydrates, proteins, fat, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, xanthoproteins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, resins, and antioxidant activities. Sample from Kelantan had the significantly highest content of alanine, glycine and isoleucine, while sample from Selangor had the highest content of carbohydrate, total energy and proline. Sample from Perak had the highest content of fat. Bee bread ethanol extract demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant properties compared to bee bread aqueous extract with the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents in sample from Perak and the highest free radical scavenging activity in sample from Selangor. Bee bread from Malaysia has good nutritional and antioxidant properties, which might indicate its potential to be a dietary supplement. The differences in compositions and antioxidant activities among the samples might be related to the floral sources and geographical locations.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known systemic disease with increasing global prevalence and multi-organ complications including diabetic nephropathy (DN). The trend of using medicinal plants in the management of DM is increasing exponentially. Etlingera elatior is a medicinal plant that contains chemicals and antioxidants that delay the oxidation process. However, available data focusing on its use on DN are inconsistent and scarce. This study aims to investigate the antidiabetic and nephroprotective effects of E. elatior flower aqueous extract (EEAE) in a type 2 DM rat (T2DR) model. The T2DR model was developed using a combination of a high-fat diet (HFD) and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) at 35mg/kg. Thirty-two Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8): (1) control (normal rat), (2) T2DR (untreated-type 2 diabetic rat), (3) Met (250mg/kg metformin-treated T2DR), and (4) EEAE (1000mg/kg EEAE-treated T2DR). All treatments were administered orally for 6 weeks. EEAE significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), microalbuminuria, serum creatinine, and serum blood urea nitrogen. EEAE also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and enhanced the levels of antioxidant markerssuperoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). The inflammatory marker (interleukin (IL)-6) and fibrosis markers (transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)) were significantly decreased in the EEAE-treated group. The T2DR group developed DN, which was characterized by segmental sclerosis of the glomeruli associated with focal tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Interestingly, the histology of kidney tissue in the EEAE group was preserved. This effect was similar to that of the control drug metformin. In summary, the antidiabetic and nephroprotective effects might be related to the antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects of the EEAE. The antidiabetic activity could be due to the presence of the active compound cyanidin-3-O-glycosides, which is an anthocyanin antioxidant, that is present in the EEAE. E. elatior has the potential to be developed as a natural source of antioxidants that can be used for the prevention or even the treatment of DM. These findings could lead to future research into the therapeutic use of E. elatior in alleviating the progression of DM and thus preventing nephropathy.

Background: Insufficient sleep alters the body’s physiological functions. This study investigated whether oxidative stress (OS) in the thalamus was correlated with the pain behaviour score in the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-deprived rat model. Methods: Four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the study (n = 6): i) control; ii) REM sleep-deprived rats for 72 h (REMsd); iii) REM sleep-deprived rats for 72 h pretreated with Tualang honey (REMsd-H) and iv) tank control (TC). Following the intervention, 1% formalin was injected on the right hind paw and pain behaviour was recorded for 1 h. OS markers of glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the thalamus were measured. Results: REM sleep deprivation increased pain behaviour scores in phase II of the formalin test with decreased GSH, GR, SOD and CAT. The MDA level was significantly higher in the REMsd compared to REMsd-H. There was an inverse correlation between pain behaviour scores and GSH, GR and SOD levels. A positive correlation was found between the pain behaviour score and the MDA level. Conclusion: OS levels were significantly correlated with the pain behaviour score in the REMsd rats. Tualang honey administration reduced pain behaviour score and OS in the thalamus.

Background: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. or Roselle, is one of the most common flower plants cultivated worldwide. Traditionally, it is claimed to reduce weight and cholesterol level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of anthocyanin-rich Roselle aqueous extract on the physical, biochemical and histological changes in obese-hypercholesterolaemic rat model.Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into five groups (n=6 per group). Group 1 is normal control (NC) rat that was fed with normal diet. The remaining rats (Group 2-5) were fed with commercial high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induce obese-hypercholesterolaemic (OH) rat. After induction, the OH rats were divided into 4 groups: OH-Untreated group, OH-ARTE; OH treated with 300 mg/kg Roselle aqueous (anthocyanin-rich) and 1% trifluoroacetic acid extract (ARTE), OH-Orlistat; OH treated with 37 mg/kg orlistat and OH-Atorvastatin; OH treated with 10 mg/kg atorvastatin. After the 3 weeks intervention period, all rats were sacrificed. Body mass index, lipid profile and liver enzymes were evaluated. The liver section was subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining for histopathological evaluation.Results: This study showed that 3 weeks administration of ARTE significantly reduced BMI, improved levels of lipid profile and liver enzymes, and histopathological changes of liver when compared to OH-untreated rats. The results were also comparable to the standard drugs.Conclusions: This study suggested that Roselle extract constitutes an effective and safe alternate treatment for obesity and hyperlipidaemia.