17.4.5 Antidiabetic Activity
Safflower seeds have been shown to exhibit antidiabetic effects and prevent complications related to diabetes. Various compounds in safflower seeds have been
shown to produce therapeutic effects in diabetes. Serotonin derivatives, N-pcoumaroyl serotonin, and N-feruloyl serotonin isolated from Safflower seed have
been evaluated for their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase. α-glucosidase is
involved in the digestion of carbohydrates and α-glucosidase inhibitors prevent the
digestion of carbohydrates by α-glucosidase and help in controlling glucose concentration. The potent inhibitory activity of serotonin derivatives against
α-glucosidase was observed with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values of
47.2 μmol/L and 99.8 μmol/L for N-p-coumaroyl serotonin and N-feruloyl serotonin,
respectively. IC 50 values of serotonin derivatives were even lower than reference
α-glucosidase inhibitor drugs. IC 50 values of reference drugs were 907.5 μmol/L and
278.0 μmol/L for acarbose and 1-deoxynojirimycin, respectively. Results suggest
the use of safflower seed as a treatment remedy for diabetes. Apart from medicinal
preparations, safflower seeds can also be utilized for developing functional foods
and supplements intended for the diabetic population (Takahashi and Miyazawa
2012).
Metabolic impairments in maternal diabetes create a pro-inflammatory environment in the uterus and lead toward alterations in placental development and functions. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), when produced in excess, are one of the
factors producing pro-inflammatory environment. Martinez and colleagues reported
that dietary supplementation with 6% of olive oil or 6% of safflower oil to the
diabetic rats prevented the MMPs’ over-activities in the placenta, and beneficial
effects were reflected in rat sera. Placentas from diabetic rats exhibited increased
protein concentrations and activities of MMP and were decreased when diabetic rats
received the olive and safflower dietary treatments (Martinez et al. 2012).
Safflower seed oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, when
supplemented to Sprague-Dawley rat’s model resulted in increased concentration
of arachidonic acid, which in turn resulted in the reduced incidence of diabetic
embryopathy and prevented the malformation of off-springs in diabetic rats (Reece
et al. 1996). Higa and colleagues also reported the reduced malformation rates
during maternal diabetes in rats when supplemented with safflower. Reduced malformation was attributed to the regulation of nitric oxide homeostasis and
arachidonic acid in embryos that subsequently prevented the developmental damage
during organogenesis (Higa et al. 2010).
Supplementation with safflower oil for 30 days at a dose of 200 mg/kg of the body
to hyperglycemic, type-1 diabetic rats produced hypoglycemic effects along with
hypolipidemic effects as well (Rahimi et al. 2014).
Asp et al. (2011) reported the effect of safflower seed oil supplementation on
post-menopausal, obese women with type 2 diabetes. Supplementation with 8 g of
safflower oil in diet improved the glycemia, inflammation, and blood lipids over a
period of 16 weeks. Authors concluded that small change in the quality of dietary
436
M. Nazir et al.
Safflower seeds have been shown to exhibit antidiabetic effects and prevent complications related to diabetes. Various compounds in safflower seeds have been
shown to produce therapeutic effects in diabetes. Serotonin derivatives, N-pcoumaroyl serotonin, and N-feruloyl serotonin isolated from Safflower seed have
been evaluated for their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase. α-glucosidase is
involved in the digestion of carbohydrates and α-glucosidase inhibitors prevent the
digestion of carbohydrates by α-glucosidase and help in controlling glucose concentration. The potent inhibitory activity of serotonin derivatives against
α-glucosidase was observed with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values of
47.2 μmol/L and 99.8 μmol/L for N-p-coumaroyl serotonin and N-feruloyl serotonin,
respectively. IC 50 values of serotonin derivatives were even lower than reference
α-glucosidase inhibitor drugs. IC 50 values of reference drugs were 907.5 μmol/L and
278.0 μmol/L for acarbose and 1-deoxynojirimycin, respectively. Results suggest
the use of safflower seed as a treatment remedy for diabetes. Apart from medicinal
preparations, safflower seeds can also be utilized for developing functional foods
and supplements intended for the diabetic population (Takahashi and Miyazawa
2012).
Metabolic impairments in maternal diabetes create a pro-inflammatory environment in the uterus and lead toward alterations in placental development and functions. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), when produced in excess, are one of the
factors producing pro-inflammatory environment. Martinez and colleagues reported
that dietary supplementation with 6% of olive oil or 6% of safflower oil to the
diabetic rats prevented the MMPs’ over-activities in the placenta, and beneficial
effects were reflected in rat sera. Placentas from diabetic rats exhibited increased
protein concentrations and activities of MMP and were decreased when diabetic rats
received the olive and safflower dietary treatments (Martinez et al. 2012).
Safflower seed oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, when
supplemented to Sprague-Dawley rat’s model resulted in increased concentration
of arachidonic acid, which in turn resulted in the reduced incidence of diabetic
embryopathy and prevented the malformation of off-springs in diabetic rats (Reece
et al. 1996). Higa and colleagues also reported the reduced malformation rates
during maternal diabetes in rats when supplemented with safflower. Reduced malformation was attributed to the regulation of nitric oxide homeostasis and
arachidonic acid in embryos that subsequently prevented the developmental damage
during organogenesis (Higa et al. 2010).
Supplementation with safflower oil for 30 days at a dose of 200 mg/kg of the body
to hyperglycemic, type-1 diabetic rats produced hypoglycemic effects along with
hypolipidemic effects as well (Rahimi et al. 2014).
Asp et al. (2011) reported the effect of safflower seed oil supplementation on
post-menopausal, obese women with type 2 diabetes. Supplementation with 8 g of
safflower oil in diet improved the glycemia, inflammation, and blood lipids over a
period of 16 weeks. Authors concluded that small change in the quality of dietary
436
M. Nazir et al.