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The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effects of Ananas comosus L. leaves on diabetic-dyslipidemic rats. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of the ethanolic extract of Ananas comosus L. leaves (EEACL) were evaluated in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats by oral glucose tolerance test and an olive oil load test. Anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-oxidative activities of EEACL were also investigated in diabetic-dyslipidemic rats induced by alloxan and a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet. EEACL at the dose of 0.40 g/kg significantly inhibited the increase in blood glucose in diabetic rats in oral glucose tolerance test, but did not cause any hypoglycerimic activity in normal rats. It also significantly inhibited the increase in postprandial triglycerides (TG) levels in both normal and diabetic rats in olive oil load test. After 15 days of treatment of diabetic dyslipidemic rats, EEACL significantly decreased blood glucose (-51.0%, P<0.01), TG (-50.1%, P<0.01), TC (-23.3%, P<0.01), LDL-c (-47.9%, P<0.01) and glycated albumin (-25.4%, P<0.01) levels, significantly increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (66.2%, P<0.01) and prevented lower body weight of diabetes (11.8%, P<0.05), significantly lowered lipid peroxidation productions of blood (-27.8%, P<0.01), brain (-31.6%, P<0.05), liver (-44.5%, P<0.01) and kidneys (-72.2%, P<0.05) compared with those in untreated diabetic dyslipidemic rats. These data suggest that EEACL has anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-oxidative activities, which may be developed into a new plant medicine for treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Our purpose in this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture therapy on body weight and on levels of the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in obese women. Fifty-five women were studied in three groups as follows: (1) control group (n = 12; mean age = 43.3 ± 4.3, and mean body mass index {BMI} = 32.2 ± 3.4); (2) electroacupuncture (EA) (n = 22; mean age = 39.8 ± 5.3, and BMI = 34.8 ± 3.3); and (3) diet restriction (n = 21; mean age = 42.7 ± 3.9, and BMI = 34.9 ± 3.3). EA was performed using the ear points, Sanjiao (Hungry) and Shen Men (Stomach), and the body points, LI 4, LI 11, St 25, St 36, St 44 and Liv 3, once daily, for 30 minutes, for 20 days, whereas patients on diet restriction had a 1425 Kcal diet program, that consisted of 1425 Kcal daily for 20 days. There was a 4.8% weight reduction in patients with EA application, whereas patients on diet restriction had a 2.5% weight reduction. There were significant decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in EA and diet groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05 in both cases). Furthermore, there was a decrease in LDL levels in the EA group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes could be found in HDL levels among the three groups. Our results suggest that EA application in obese women may decrease the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels by increasing the serum beta endorphin level. This lipolytic effect of EA may also reduce the morbidity of obesity by mobilizing the energy stores that result in weight reduction.

The measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides in blood by Z-scan technique is proposed. The nonlinear refractive index of cholesterol and triglycerides was found to vary linearly with concentration. Hence by calculating the nonlinear refractive index it is possible to measure their concentration in the sample. These measured values are found in equivalence with conventional colorimetric method.

The human arylamine N-acetyltransferase type 2 ((HUMAN)NAT2) gene encodes for a xenobiotic metabolising enzyme. NAT2 polymorphisms, which modify acetylation rates, exhibit inter-individual and ethnic variability for drugs and xenobiotics metabolism and act as one of the important factors in explaining variability in cancer incidence and drug toxicity. In addition, a new unbiased and untargeted genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified (HUMAN)NAT2 as the top signal for insulin resistance (IR), a cardinal feature of diabetes and a major cardiovascular risk factor. Other GWAS studies have also associated (HUMAN) NAT2 polymorphisms with plasma triglyceride levels, detoxification capacity, and urine metabotypes such as the ratio between formate and succinate concentrations. Here we review the links between (HUMAN) NAT2 and cardiometabolic traits including IR, glucose homeostasis and mitochondrial biology. Based on these findings, (HUMAN)NAT2 activation may be a target to improve the function of the metabolic network related to mitochondrial substrate oxidation and biogenesis and insulin responsiveness.