Excess body weight is associated not only with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD)butalsowithvarioustypesofmalignancies.Adiponectin,themostabundantproteinsecretedbyadipose tissue, exhibits insulin-sensitizing, antiinflammatory, antiatherogenic, proapoptotic, and antiproliferative properties.Circulatingadiponectinlevels,whicharedeterminedpredominantlybygeneticfactors,diet,physical activity, and abdominal adiposity, are decreased in patients with diabetes, CVD, and several obesity-associated cancers. Also, adiponectin levels are inversely associated with the risk of developing diabetes, CVD, and several malignancies later in life. Many cancer cell lines express adiponectin receptors, and adiponectin in vitro limits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. Recent in vitro studies demonstrate the antiangiogenic and tumor growth-limiting properties of adiponectin. Studies in both animals and humans have investigated adiponectin and adiponectin receptor regulation and expression in several cancers. Current evidence supports a role of adiponectin as a novel risk factor and potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer. In addition, either adiponectin per se or medications that increase adiponectin levels or up-regulate signaling pathways downstream of adiponectin may prove to be useful anticancer agents. This review presents the role of adiponectin in carcinogenesis and cancer progression and examines the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the association between adiponectin and malignancy in the context of a dysfunctional adipose tissue in obesity. Understanding of these mechanisms may be important for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies against obesity-associated malignancies. (Endocrine Reviews 33: 547–594, 2012)

/pdf/the-role-of-adiponectin-in-cancer-a-review-of-current-515zsm5kwc.pdf

The Role of Adiponectin in Cancer: A Review of Current Evidence

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/9/10/551/pdf

Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components.

An update on natural compounds in the remedy of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review.

Spice plants have a great influence on world history. For centuries, different civilizations have used them to condiment the foods of kings and nobles and applied them as embalming preservatives, perfumes, cosmetics, and medicines in different regions of the world. In general, these plants have formed the basis of traditional medicine and some of their derived substances have been utilized to treat different human diseases. Essential oils (EOs) obtained from these plants have been also used as therapeutic agents and have shown supportive uses in remedial practices. The discovery and development of bioactive compounds from these natural products, based on their traditional uses, play an important role in developing the scientific evidence of their potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications. In the present review, using recent studies, we exhibit a general overview of the main aspects related to the importance of spice plants widely used in traditional medicine: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (true cinnamon), Mentha piperita (peppermint), Ocimum basilicum (basil), Origanum vulgare (oregano), Piper nigrum (black pepper), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Thymus vulgaris (thyme); and we discuss new findings of the bioactive compounds obtained from their EOs, their potential applications, as well as their molecular mechanisms of action, focusing on their antioxidant activity. We also exhibit the main in vitro methods applied to determine the antioxidant activities of these natural products.

Bioactive Natural Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Spice Plants: New Findings and Potential Applications.

American Cancer Society: Access to Care

Background: Lack of physical activities throughout life is related to obesity and is a risk factor of breast cancer, however, the associations of these factors with adiponectin in the occurrence of breast cancer have not been well investigated. Objective: This study investigated the relationship between adiposity, lifetime physical activities and serum adiponectin as breast cancer risk factors among Malaysian women in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Design: A case-control study was carried out among 70 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 138 controls aged 29 to 65 years old in Klang Valley. Subjects: The inclusion criteria for both groups were not having menstruation for premenopausal women, no evidence of pregnancy, not lactating and no chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes at the time of data collection. In addition, the cases must be pathologically newly diagnosed with breast cancer (stage I to III) and not on any therapy for cancer, with the exception of surgery. The controls were matched with cases for age ± 5 years and menopausal status. Measurements: Subjects were interviewed to obtain information on socio-demography, health and reproductive history using a pretested questionnaire. Subjects were also asked on their engagement of physical activity since secondary school. Anthropometric parameters included height, weight, waist and hips were also measured. A total of 6 ml of fasting venous blood was drawn for analysis of serum adiponectin in duplicate using Linko Adiponectin ELISA Kit. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood pressure were also measured. Results: Mean body mass index (BMI) among cases and controls were not significantly different (p>0.05) at 26.1 ± 4.8 kg/m2 and 25.3 ± 4.5 kg/ m2, respectively. FBG among cases (6.3 ± 1.8 mmol/L) was higher than controls (5.6 ± 1.1 mmol/L) (p 0.85) increased risk of breast cancer by three folds [Adjusted OR 3.3 (95%CI 1.8-6.2)] (p 75th)(≥16.7 µg/ml) had 80% reduced risk of breast cancer [Adjusted OR 0.2 (0.0-0.6)](p<0.05). A higher percentage of cases (47%) had not engaged in any physical activity throughout life as compared to controls (19%)[Adjusted OR 3.7 (1.7-7.7)](p<0.001). Conclusions: Abdominal obesity and physical inactivity throughout life were associated with low serum adiponectin and breast cancer risk among subjects. Thus, it is essential for Malaysian women to be physically active and achieve a healthy waistline in order to increase serum adiponectin level and reduce breast cancer risk.

Roles of adiposity, lifetime physical activity and serum adiponectin in occurrence of breast cancer among Malaysian women in Klang Valley.

Phytochemical screening assay on crude extracts of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. leaves and methanol fractions was performed in this study. Phytochemical qualitative assay on aqueous crude extract and aque...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10942912.2018.1508161

Phytochemical and bioactive compounds identification of Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves of methanol extract and its fraction with an anti-diabetic potential

This present review provides information on the antihyperglycemic effect of the plants belonging to the genus Ocimum. The species of this genus which mostly show significant antihyperglycemic effects are Ocimum tenuiflorum L., Ocimum basilicum L., Ocimum gratissimum L. and Ocimum canum L. The results were shown in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The anti-hyperglycemic activities of different extracts from all these species are reported here. Aqueous extracts are common to show a satisfactory result for all the species. The results for ethanol, methanol, ethyl-acetate, petroleum ether extracts, chloroform and hexane fraction of ethanol extract are also presented here. Some of the results showed a better effect than the standard medicine. Eugenol is the most important bioactive compound among all the components for reducing blood glucose level. Other components include polyphenols, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid compound and chichoric acid, which are reportedly found in these species. There are fewer studies performed to identify the phytochemical components which are responsible for these plants blood glucose, serum glucose and plasma glucose lowering effect. This review presents the studies which have been done lately to establish the antihyperglycemic effects of these plants with a view to identify the core components responsible for this activity in near future.

Antihyperglycemic effect of Ocimum plants: A short review

Objective To investigate the antidiabetic activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. ( O. tenuiflorum ) leaves used in the traditional medicine management of diabetes in Malaysia. Methods O. tenuiflorum leaves were extracted sequentially with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The extracts were evaluated in terms of antidiabetic activity by using acute, subcutaneous glucose tolerance, and sub-chronic tests in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The extracts were also subjected to phytochemical analyses. Results With an acute dose (1 g/kg), the methanol extracts showed significant reduction (31%) in fasting blood glucose (FBG) of the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The FBG-decreasing effect of ethyl acetate extract was more rapid than that of the other extracts; the decreasing rates were 20% after 2 h, 21% after 3 h, and 8% after 5 and 7 h. After 7 h (31%), the effect of methanol extract on FBG was significantly lower than that of metformin. In the subcutaneous glucose tolerance test, only methanol and hexane extracts showed the similarity of metformin in diabetic rats. After 14 days, the effects of these extracts were similar to those of metformin (63.33%). The total flavonoid and phenolic contents of extracts decreased as the polarity of the extraction solvent increased. Conclusions The results obtained provide support for a possible use of O. tenuiflorum leaves in managing hyperglycemia and preventing the complications associated with it in type 2 diabetic.

Hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic study of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. leaves extract in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This study was done to evaluate the effect of adding different concentrations of pectin (0, 1, 2 and 3%w/w) and the quality of the formulation. Nutritional content of sapodilla fruit bars as carbohydrates (72.8%), proteins (0.3%), fats (3.2%), fibers (2.5%), ash (1.8%), phenols (169.9 mg GAE/100 g) and calorie (323.0 kcal/100 g). Increasing the pectin concentration increased the hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness of the sapodilla fruit bar but lower the moisture content and aw. A high pectin content (3%) also significantly increased the hue˚ of fruit bar (P < 0.05). These results suggest that pectin can be added as a stabilizer to prolong shelf life, as well as to improve the texture of sapodilla fruit bars without significantly affecting the nutritional value and color. All sapodilla fruit bars in this study were acceptable and fell above the “neither like nor dislike” category (≥4.0) for all attributes measured.

Practical Applications
Sapodilla fruit, being a good source of vitamins and other nutrients, are underutilized as a functional food compound. Effective processing can preserve and losing in a significant increased and reduction in nutrient components of the sapodilla fruit bars frequently. The processed sapodilla with different concentration of pectin can increased the hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness of the sapodilla fruit. These processed of sapodilla fruit bar can be utilized in the development of functional products as a stabilizer to prolong shelf life, as well as to improve the texture of sapodilla fruit bars without significantly affecting the nutritional value and color.

Rabeta Mohd Salleh

Papers

Roles of adiposity, lifetime physical activity and serum adiponectin in occurrence of breast cancer among Malaysian women in Klang Valley.

Phytochemical and bioactive compounds identification of Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves of methanol extract and its fraction with an anti-diabetic potential

Antihyperglycemic effect of Ocimum plants: A short review

Hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic study of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. leaves extract in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Development of Fruit Bar Using Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota L.)