bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/485219

Beneficial effects of Spirogyra Neglecta Extract on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Mesbahzadeh, B.·Rajaei, S. A.·Tarahomi, P.·Seyedinia, S. A.·Rahmani, M.·Rezamohamadi, F.·Kakar, M. A.·Moradi-kor, N.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to evaluate the effects of oral supplementation of Spirogyra algae on oxidative damages and inflammatory responses in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.\n\nMethodsDiabetes was induced by administration of 55 mg/kg of streptozotocin. A total of sixty-four rats were divided into eight groups of eight rats each as follows:1) non-diabetic control; 2, 3, and 4) non-diabetic rats treated with 15, 30, and 45 mg of Spirogyra algae/kg/d; 5) control diabetic; and 6, 7, and 8) diabetic rats treated with 15, 30, and 45 mg of Spirogyra algae extract. At the end of the trial, the serum concentrations of glucose, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant status (TAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol were examined by specified procedures.\n\nResultsOur findings indicated that the administration of STZ significantly increased the serum concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, CRP, IL-6, TNF-, and MDA and decreased the serum levels of GSH and TAS (P<0.05) in diabetic rats. Oral administration of Spirogyra alleviated adverse effects of diabetes on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in diabetic rats (P<0.05).\n\nConclusionIt can be stated that Spirogyra algae extract can be used for treatment of diabetes likely due to prevention of oxidative stress and alleviation of inflammation in the rat model.

Source connections

Explore related subjects

pharmacology and toxicologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Mesbahzadeh, B., Rajaei, S. A., Tarahomi, P., Seyedinia, S. A., Rahmani, M., Rezamohamadi, F., Kakar, M. A., Moradi-kor, N.. 2018-12-03. Beneficial effects of Spirogyra Neglecta Extract on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. https://doi.org/10.1101/485219

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Lipid-ASO therapeutics exhibit differential tissue targeted delivery upon systemic or local CNS administration

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are a powerful therapeutic modality, but their full potential is hindered by pharmacokinetic properties that affect tissue and cellular delivery. Lipid conjugation is increasingly used to modulate ASO's biodistribution and promote extrahepatic activity, yet lipid dependent effects on in vivo functional delivery, particularly in the central nervous system (CNS), remain less explored. Here, we performed a side by side in vivo comparison of cholesterol, palmitic acid (C16:0), docosanoic acid (C22:0), and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) conjugated to a fully phosphorothioated 3 10 3 LNA gapmer ASO targeting the Malat1 long non coding RNA. Lipid-ASO conjugates were administered systemically or locally in the brain of mice and evaluated for tissue level and cellular level distribution by imaging, qPCR and single-cell RNA sequencing, simultaneously annotating cell origin and global transcriptional changes within the cell. Following systemic administration in mice, lipid conjugation improved overall multi organ efficacy compared to unconjugated ASO, but with pronounced tissue specific differences. Single cell sequencing of liver and heart transcriptomes revealed lipid dependent cellular uptake patterns and transcriptional responses distinct from administration of unconjugated ASO. After intracerebroventricular administration, selected fatty acid conjugates enhanced silencing in deep brain regions such as the striatum, whereas cholesterol conjugation impaired functional delivery despite increased CNS retention. Light-sheet microscopy showed restricted parenchymal penetration of cholesterol ASOs compared with broader but heterogeneous distribution of palmitic acid conjugate. Together, these findings demonstrate that lipid identity critically determines ASO efficacy, productive cellular uptake, and regional CNS engagement, emphasizing the need for context specific lipid design in ASO therapeutic development.

pharmacology and toxicology↗
bioRxiv2026

Novel Dissymmetric Ionizable Lipid-Assembled Lipid Nanoparticles for Delivery of Ferroptosis-Related siRNA in Diabetic Treatment

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) enables precise post-transcriptional gene silencing for refractory diseases, yet its clinical translation remains limited by the lack of safe and efficient delivery vectors. Inspired by the dissymmetric alkyl chain architecture of natural membrane phospholipids, we designed and synthesized 34 novel ionizable lipids with dissymmetric hydrophobic tails and formulated them into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Through systematic physicochemical and biological assessments, we established clear structure-activity relationships and identified two lead LNPs (O14-LNP, H18a-LNP) with superior endosomal escape capacity, enhanced in vivo gene silencing potency, and favorable biosafety relative to the clinical benchmark MC3-LNP. In both streptozotocin-induced and spontaneous db/db type 2 diabetes (T2D) mouse models, lead LNPs delivering ferroptosis-related siRNAs effectively ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, restored islet function, and alleviated hepatic steatosis. This study not only lays a theoretical foundation for the rational design of novel ionizable lipids, but also validates the therapeutic potential of siRNA therapy targeting ferroptosis, providing a versatile delivery platform and targeted therapeutic strategy for the treatment of T2D.

pharmacology and toxicology↗
bioRxiv2018

Antimalarial drug mefloquine kills both trophozoite and cyst stages of Entamoeba

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite which infects approximately 50 million people worldwide, resulting in an estimated 70,000 deaths every year. Since the 1960s E. histolytica infection has been successfully treated with metronidazole. However, drawbacks to metronidazole therapy exist, including adverse effects, length of treatment, and the need for additional drugs to prevent transmission. All of these may decrease patient compliance and hence increase disease severity and spread of infection. In this study we identified the antimalarial drug mefloquine as possessing more potent, rapid, amoebicidal in vitro activity against E. histolytica trophozoites than metronidazole. We also showed that mefloquine could kill the cysts of a closely related reptilian parasite Entamoeba invadens unlike metronidazole. Additionally, mefloquine is known to possess a much longer half-life in human patients than metronidazole. This property, along with mefloquines rapid and broad action against E. histolytica position it as a promising new drug candidate against this widespread and devastating disease.\n\nAuthor SummaryEvery year, around 70,000 people worldwide die from infection by the intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica, despite the widespread availability of the drug metronidazole as a treatment. Part of the reason for this may be due to issues with patients failing to comply with the full course of treatment for the drug, due either to unpleasant side-effects, to the somewhat long treatment period, or the need for a secondary drug to kill the transmissible life stage of the parasite. In this report we discovered that the antimalarial drug mefloquine killed E. histolytica more potently and more rapidly than metronidazole, and, importantly, also killed the transmissible cyst stage of another Entamoeba species used as a model system. These findings make mefloquine an excellent candidate for an alternative drug to the current standard, with a simpler course of treatment and a more effective strategy to reduce the spread of this disease.

pharmacology and toxicology↗