Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil.) has been used to reduce blood sugar and lipid profiles in traditional medicine, and mitragynine is a major constituent in kratom leaves. Previous data on the blood sugar and lipid-altering effects of kratom are limited. In this study, phytochemical analyses of mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, quercetin, and rutin were performed in kratom extracts. The effects on α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase activities were investigated in kratom extracts and mitragynine. The LC-MS/MS analysis showed that the mitragynine, quercetin, and rutin contents from kratom extracts were different. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total alkaloid content (TAC). Additionally, compared to methanol and aqueous extracts, the ethanol extract showed the strongest inhibition activity against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Compared with the anti-diabetic agent acarbose, mitragynine showed the most potent α-glucosidase inhibition, with less potent activity of pancreatic lipase inhibition. Analysis of α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase kinetics revealed that mitragynine inhibited noncompetitive and competitive effects, respectively. Combining mitragynine with acarbose resulted in a synergistic interaction with α-glucosidase inhibition. These results have established the potential of mitragynine from kratom as a herbal supplement for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus.

Nigella sativa L. and black seeds are traditionally used for cooking and medicinal purposes in Arab and other countries. Although N. sativa seed extract has many known biological effects, the biological effects of cold-pressed N. sativa oil are poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the gastroprotective effects and subacute oral toxicity of black seed oil (BSO) in an animal model. The gastroprotective effects of oral BSO (50% and 100%; 1 mg/kg) were tested using acute experimental models of ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. Gross and histological gastric lesions, ulcerated gastric areas, ulcer index score, percentage of inhibition rate, gastric juice pH, and gastric wall mucus were all evaluated. The subacute toxicity of BSO and its thymoquinone (TQ) content were also examined. The results indicated that the administration of BSO exerted gastroprotective effects by increasing the gastric wall mucus and decreasing gastric juice acidity. In the subacute toxicity test, the animals behaved normally, and their weight and water and food intake did not show significant variations. High-performance liquid chromatography detected 7.3 mg/mL TQ in BSO. These findings suggest that BSO may be a safe therapeutic drug for preventing gastric ulcers.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil.) is a medicinal plant containing bioactive alkaloids, notably mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which are psychoactive compounds with analgesic and stimulant properties. Due to safety concerns, the use of Kratom leaves and mitragynine in oral pharmaceutical products is restricted. Therefore, their potential as topical cosmeceutical agents merits further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities of Kratom ethanolic (Et-MS) and alkaloid-rich (Alk-MS) extracts, as well as purified mitragynine, to determine whether mitragynine is the major bioactive compound responsible for lipid reduction in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The antioxidant properties were assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, yielding EC₅₀ values of 0.06 mg/mL, 0.29 mg/mL, and 55 g Fe²⁺/100 g for Et-MS, respectively. In comparison, ascorbic acid (positive control) showed a DPPH EC₅₀ value of 0.002 mg/mL. Both Alk-MS and mitragynine significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by up to 50–70% at non-cytotoxic concentrations (≤25 µg/mL), as determined by Oil Red O staining. These findings provide preliminary in vitro evidence that phenolic constituents contribute to antioxidant capacity, while mitragynine is the principal anti-adipogenic constituent in Kratom extracts. Collectively, the results support the potential for further development of Kratom-derived extracts and mitragynine as plant-based candidates for topical or cosmeceutical applications targeting subcutaneous fat and oxidative skin damage.

The leaf extract of Tectona grandis L.f. has shown potential as a 5α-reductase inhibitor, with two bioactive markers, namely (+)-eperua-8,13-dien-15-oic acid (1) and (+)-eperua-7,13-dien-15-oic acid (2), used for extract standardization. The purpose of this research was to investigate the in vitro skin penetration behavior of 1 and 2 in T. grandis leaf ethanolic extract solution and ready-to-use extract in propylene glycol (PG), and secondly, to determine their physicochemical properties, including partition coefficients and solubility. The appropriate vehicle for the in vitro skin penetration study was evaluated using the shake-flask method. The in vitro skin penetration study was conducted using the Franz diffusion cell model, and the amounts of the two active compounds in the extracts were analyzed using the HPLC method. Compounds 1 and 2 showed poor solubility in distilled water, whereas their solubility in HEPES buffer with 2% w/v of Tween 20 was significantly greater. The partition coefficient (log P_o/w) value for 1 was 5.77 ± 0.07, and for 2, it was 5.66 ± 0.02, indicating that both compounds are hydrophobic. After 24 h of an in vitro skin penetration study, 1 in both extracts showed significantly higher cumulative amounts (%) compared to 2. These findings suggest that 1 is more hydrophobic and readily penetrates the stratum corneum. When a PG enhancer was added, high cumulative amount trends of 1 and 2 in the ethanolic extract and extract in PG in the receiver compartment were detected after 24 h. These studies provide important insights that will guide the further development of products with T. grandis extracts for treating hair loss.

Obesity and overweight have serious health outcomes. “Phikud Tri-Phon” (PTP) is a traditional Thai medicine comprising three dried fruits from Aegle marmelos L., Morinda citrifolia L., and Coriandrum sativum L. Whether this medicine impacts on metabolic disease is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the phenolic and flavonoid contents of PTP and each of its herbal components, and further assess their antioxidant and anti-adipogenetic activities. Oil-red O staining was measured for lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The chemical profiles of PTP and each herbal extract were determined by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Our results show that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of PTP water extract were 22.35–108.42 mg of gallic acid equivalents and PTP ethanolic extract was 1.19–0.93 mg of quercetin equivalents and the DPPH scavenging capacity assay of PTP ethanolic extract (1 mg/mL) was 92.45 ± 6.58 (Trolox equivalent)/g. The PTP extracts and individual herbs had inhibitory adipogenesis activity, which reduced lipid accumulation by approximately 31% in PTP water extract and 22% in PTP ethanolic extract compared with control cells. These results provided insights into the traditional preparation method of using boiling water as a vehicle for PTP. In conclusion, PTP has antioxidant and anti-adipogenesis potential, indicating it is a promising ingredient in functional food and herbal health products.

Obesity is a global health concern, steadily rising and posing risks to various health conditions. Despite available antiobesity drugs, their withdrawal due to severe side effects highlights the need for safer alternatives. Natural products, particularly mixed herbal formulations, present a promising avenue in obesity research. This study aimed to investigate the potential antiobesity effects of the NL herbal formula, a traditional remedy in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, composed of nine herbs. The specific focus was on the inhibitory effects on α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase enzyme activities, adipogenesis inhibition and lipolysis promotion. NL extract was phytochemically analyzed and assessed for its inhibitory effects on α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Its impact on lipid accumulation and glycerol release was also evaluated. Phytochemical analysis using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS‐MS) identified piperine as the major compound in the NL extract. NL extract exhibited significant inhibition of α‐glucosidase, moderate pancreatic lipase inhibition, and dose‐dependent reduction in fat accumulation and triglyceride content. Glycerol release increased compared to the control, indicating potential benefits in weight management. This research underscores the potential of the NL formula in combating obesity through its effects on adipogenesis, lipolysis, and enzyme activities. Further investigations into the molecular mechanisms are warranted to fully elucidate its therapeutic potential.