Beneficial effects of n-hexane bark extract of Onosma echioides L. on diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Onosma echioides Linn (Boraginaceae) is the most frequently used curative herb widely used for kidney obstruction, sciatic pain, and gout. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of n-hexane bark extract of O. echioides (OE) L. root in vivo against Streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy in SD rats. For in vivo activity, the experiment was categorized into five different groups (n = 5). Group-I was considered as nondiabetic/normal control (NC) treated with 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Group II as diabetic control, Group-III, IV, and V served as diabetic treated with OE 50, OE 100, and pregabalin at a dose of 50, 100, and 10 mg/kg body weight, orally, respectively. Body weight, blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, behavioral studies (motor coordination test, thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, locomotor activity, oxidative biomarkers (thio barbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH], and catalase), and histopathology of the sciatic nerve were performed. Treatment with OE showed a dose-dependent increase in neuroprotective activity by improving the myelination and decreasing the axonal swelling of nerve fibers. The verdicts of behavioral activities showed a remarkable effect on animals after the treatment of extract and standard drug pregabalin. In conclusion, our findings supported the traditional application of OE and explored its importance in the management of diabetic neuropathy. Additional clinical experiments may provide novel therapeutic drugs for diabetes and its complications.     

Changes in DTPA-iron and management of iron chlorosis in rice nurseries

Summary On a Typic Ustochrept soil incorporation of 10 tons/ha of a green manure plus submergence for 10 days followed by raising upland nursery checked iron chlorosis. In contrast, presubmergence with and without FYM and iron sulfate or pyrite were a failure. Nor weekly sprays with 3.0% iron sulfate were found very effective. The success of green manure plus submergence was associated with the mobilization of soil iron as a result of intense reduction and its subsequent retention in available form at a sufficient high level during the growth of upland nursery.     

Hepatic glycoprotein synthesis in streptozotocin diabetic rats

In vitro incorporation of 3H-mannose into dolichol phosphate mannose, dolichol pyrophosphate oligosaccharides, and secretory and membrane glycoproteins was investigated in liver slices from streptozotocin diabetic rats. In addition, 14C-leucine incorporation into glycoproteins was studied. 3H-mannose incorporation was significantly less in secretory glycoproteins from diabetic rat liver slices than from control tissues, but 14C-leucine incorporation in these proteins was similar in both groups. Dolichol-phosphate mannose and dolichol-phosphate oligosaccharide synthesis were significantly down-regulated in diabetes. When incubated with insulin, mannosylation of secretory proteins, dolichol-phosphate mannose and dolichol-phosphate oligosaccharides reached control levels in three hours. Dolichol-phosphate mannosyltransferase activity was significantly less in diabetes, while in the presence of insulin, the enzyme activity reached control levels in three hours. These results indicate that key intermediates in glycoprotein biosynthesis are regulated by insulin.