Ephedra is one of the largest genera of the Ephedraceae family, which is distributed in arid and semiarid regions of the world. In the traditional medicine from several countries some species from the genus are commonly used to treat asthma, cold, flu, chills, fever, headache, nasal congestion, and cough. The chemical constituents of Ephedra species have been of research interest for decades due to their contents of ephedrine-type alkaloids and its pharmacological properties. Other chemical constituents such as phenolic and amino acid derivatives also have resulted attractive and have provided evidence-based supporting of the ethnomedical uses of the Ephedra species. In recent years, research has been expanded to explore the endophytic fungal diversity associated to Ephedra species, as well as, the chemical constituents derived from these fungi and their pharmacological bioprospecting. Two additional aspects that illustrate the chemical diversity of Ephedra genus are the chemotaxonomy approaches and the use of ephedrine-type alkaloids as building blocks in organic synthesis. American Ephedra species, especially those that exist in Mexico, are considered to lack ephedrine type alkaloids. In this sense, the phytochemical study of Mexican Ephedra species is a promising area of research to corroborate their ephedrine-type alkaloids content and, in turn, discover new chemical compounds with potential biological activity. Therefore, the present review represents a key compilation of all the relevant information for the Ephedra genus, in particular the American species, the species distribution, their ecological interactions, its ethnobotany, its phytochemistry and their pharmacological activities and toxicities, in order to promote clear directions for future research.

This research evaluated the potential of using the methanol extract of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f (AVM) to prevent the formation of AGEs by means of the BSA/glucose assay, BSA‐methylglyoxal assay, arginine‐methylglyoxal assay, fructosamine, Nɛ‐(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), thiol groups, and carbonyl protein in vitro. The effect of AVM was also evaluated with regard to inhibiting the enzymes α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase. For this, the plant was dried, ground, and subsequently macerated with methanol. Aloe vera methanol extract (AVM) significantly decreased the formation of AGEs, as well as the formation of fructosamine, CML, and carbonyl protein. The concentration of 5 mg/ml of AVM presented the best results. AVM significantly inhibited the α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase enzymes. As regards the content of thiol groups, a significant increase was observed during the four weeks of the experiment. So, we can conclude that Aloe vera methanol extract decreases the formation of AGEs and may inhibit the increase in postprandial glucose, suggesting that AVM can prevent diabetes complications associated with AGE.

Background: The aim was to explore the efficacy of extract of Eysenhardtia polystachya-loaded silver nanoparticles (EP/AgNPs) on pancreatic β cells, INS-1 cells, and zebrafish as a valuable model for the study of diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: EP/AgNPs were synthesized using methanol/water bark extract of E. polystachya and characterized using various physicochemical techniques. Results: Immersion of adult zebrafish in 111 mM glucose solution resulted in a sustained hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic state, and serum insulin levels decreased. The synthesized EP/AgNPs showed an absorption peak at 413 nm on ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, revealing the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that most of the particles were spherical, with a diameter of 10–12 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.197, and a zeta potential of -32.25 mV, suggesting high stability of the nanoparticles. EP/AgNPs promote pancreatic β-cell survival, insulin secretion, enhanced hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in glucose-induced diabetic zebrafish. EP/AgNPs also showed protection of the pancreatic β-cell line INS-1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury. Conclusion: The results indicate that EP/AgNPs have good antidiabetic activity and therefore could be used to prevent the development of diabetes.

Six new flavonoids 2′,4′‐dihydroxychalcone‐6′‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (1), α,3,2′,4′‐tetrahydroxy‐4‐methoxy‐dihydrochalcone‐3′‐C‐β‐glucopyranosy‐6′‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (2), 7‐hydroxy‐5,8′‐dimethoxy‐6′α‐l‐rhamnopyranosyl‐8‐(3‐phenyl‐trans‐acryloyl)‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one (3), 6′7‐dihydroxy‐5,8‐dimethoxy‐8(3‐phenyl‐trans‐acryloyl)‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one (4), 9‐hydroxy‐3,8‐dimethoxy‐4‐prenylpterocarpan (5), and α,4,4′‐trihydroxydihydrochalcone‐2′‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (6) were isolated from bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya. Antidiabetic activity of compounds 1–5 in terms of their cellular antioxidant and free radical scavenging and also in streptozotocin‐ (STZ‐) induced diabetic mice was evaluated on liver transaminases, lipid peroxidation, total bilirubin, total protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (CSH‐Px), and glutathione reductase (GSH). Results indicated that 1–5 scavenged 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (^∙OH), nitric oxide radicals (NO^∙), superoxide anion radical (), radical cation (ABTS^∙+), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) radical, and protection against H₂O₂ induced BSA damage was also observed. Furthermore, 1–5 showed ability to decrease the oxidative stress in H9c2 cell. Diabetic mice present high levels of lipid peroxide, total protein, SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and TB. However, treatment of STZ‐induced diabetes in mice with 1–5 reduced levels of these enzymes leading to protector effect of liver. In addition, with treatment with 1–5, increases in radical scavenging enzymes of CSH‐Px, SOD, GSH, and CAT have also been observed in diabetic mice. The antioxidant properties of compounds 1–5 are a promising strategy for ameliorating therapeutic effects by avoiding disorders in the normal redox reactions in healthy cells which consequently could alleviate complications of diabetes.

Medicinal plants are commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, particularly as they contain flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The present study aims to investigate the activities of a polyherbal formulation made from Urtica dioica, Apium graveolens, and Zingiber officinale (UAZ) against streptozotocin–nicotinamide ((STZ-NA)-induced type 2 diabetes in CD1 mice, glucose-induced type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in zebrafish, and high glucose-induced damage in RINm5F pancreatic β-cells. In fasting mice, plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and lipid profiles were significantly increased, whereas insulin, enzymatic antioxidants, and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes were altered significantly in diabetic mice. Zebrafish had similar glucose levels, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles compared to mice. The study investigated the effects of the extract in enhancing cell viability, insulin secretion, and reducing lipid peroxidation and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in RINm5F cells damaged by high glucose. All the above biochemical parameters were enhanced in both mice and zebrafish treated; the combined extract UAZ normalized all the biochemical parameters. The medicinal plant extracts, used either separately or in combination, ameliorated the adverse effect of glucose on cell viability and functionality of beta-RINm5F cells.