Discipline of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, University Road, Durban, 4000, South Africa.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Phytomedicine and Diabetes Research Group, Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 May;101:447-457. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.02.115. Epub 2018 Mar 22.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Family: Apiaceae) is a perennial herb that has been used to elevate mood, improve memory, treat wounds and manage kidney-related ailments in African traditional medicine practice. This study evaluated the potential benefits of C. asiatica (CA) on diabetes-induced stress in kidney and brain of rats. Following the induction of diabetes mellitus (DM), rats were orally treated with vehicle, CA or Metformin daily for 14 days. After treatment, renal and brain levels of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 were assessed. Oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers were also evaluated. Phyto-compounds in the crude methanol extract of CA were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. Diabetes increased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration by 39%; elevated levels of TNF-α (44%) and IFN-γ (20%); and reduced the antioxidant status in the kidney in comparison to normal control rats. In the brain, diabetic control rats had significantly greater levels of MDA, TNF-α, and IFN-γ (182%, 40%, and 20%, respectively) in addition to the lowered antioxidant status when compared to normal control rats. However, treatment with CA significantly reduced the renal levels of MDA (33%), TNF-α (78%), and IFN-γ (42%) while that of IL-10 increased by 18% when compared to diabetic control rats. In the brain, CA treatment elicited significant reductions in MDA (37%), TNF-α (30%), and IFN-γ (37%) levels while those of IL-4 and IL-10 increased by 94% and 20% respectively. In addition, the renal and brain antioxidant status was significantly boosted by CA treatment. Several medicinal compounds including ascorbic acid, asiatic acid, oleanolic acid, stevioside, stigmasterol, and α-humulene were identified in the crude extract of CA. Findings from this study suggest CA may protect diabetic tissues from stress via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms that can be useful in the management of diabetic complications.
积雪草（Centella asiatica（L.）Urban）（伞形科）是一种多年生草本植物，在非洲传统医学实践中，它被用于提升情绪、改善记忆、治疗伤口和管理与肾脏相关的疾病。本研究评估了积雪草（CA）对糖尿病引起的大鼠肾脏和大脑应激的潜在益处。在诱导糖尿病（DM）后，大鼠每天口服给予载体、CA 或二甲双胍治疗 14 天。治疗后，评估肾脏和大脑中炎症细胞因子 TNF-α、IFN-γ、IL-4 和 IL-10 的水平。还评估了氧化应激和抗氧化生物标志物。通过气相色谱-质谱法分析 CA 粗甲醇提取物中的植物化合物。与正常对照大鼠相比，糖尿病使丙二醛（MDA）浓度增加了 39%；升高 TNF-α（44%）和 IFN-γ（20%）水平；并降低了肾脏的抗氧化状态。在大脑中，与正常对照大鼠相比，糖尿病对照大鼠的 MDA、TNF-α 和 IFN-γ 水平显著升高（分别为 182%、40%和 20%），抗氧化状态降低。然而，与糖尿病对照大鼠相比，CA 治疗显著降低了肾脏中 MDA（33%）、TNF-α（78%）和 IFN-γ（42%）的水平，同时 IL-10 增加了 18%。在大脑中，CA 治疗可显著降低 MDA（37%）、TNF-α（30%）和 IFN-γ（37%）的水平，同时 IL-4 和 IL-10 的水平分别增加 94%和 20%。此外，CA 治疗还显著增强了肾脏和大脑的抗氧化状态。在 CA 的粗提取物中鉴定出几种药用化合物，包括抗坏血酸、积雪草酸、齐墩果酸、甜菊苷、豆甾醇和α-葎草烯。本研究的结果表明，CA 通过抗氧化和抗炎机制可能保护糖尿病组织免受应激，这在糖尿病并发症的治疗中可能是有用的。
