Nishad Parkar, Veeranjaneyulu Addepalli

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Prolonged hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus results in severe vascular complications leading to decrease in longevity of affected individuals. Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness in diabetes. Nobiletin is a polymethoxyflavone present in high concentration in citrus fruits. Here we have evaluated the treatment with nobiletin on the amelioration of diabetic retinopathy in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of STZ (50 mg/kg). Animals with blood glucose levels >350mg/dL after 48 hours of STZ injection were subjected to further treatments. Diabetic rats were treated daily with nobiletin (10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg) for four weeks after four weeks of induction of diabetes. At the end of eight weeks, blood retinal barrier permeability was quantified in animals treated with nobiletin and compared with that of vehicle control. Histopathological analysis of the retinal sections was done using H&E stain and the outer limiting membrane to inner limiting membrane distance was measured. Further, outer nuclear membrane thickness was compared between the treatment groups. The study suggested that nobiletin reduced blood retinal barrier permeability and improved the thickness of retinal layers. Thus, treatment with nobiletin can be used as an approach to ameliorate diabetic retinopathy.

Nishad Parkar, Veeranjaneyulu Addepalli

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Prolonged hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus results in severe vascular complications leading to decrease in longevity of affected individuals. Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness in diabetes. Nobiletin is a polymethoxyflavone present in high concentration in citrus fruits. Here we have evaluated the treatment with nobiletin on the amelioration of diabetic retinopathy in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of STZ (50 mg/kg). Animals with blood glucose levels >350mg/dL after 48 hours of STZ injection were subjected to further treatments. Diabetic rats were treated daily with nobiletin (10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg) for four weeks after four weeks of induction of diabetes. At the end of eight weeks, blood retinal barrier permeability was quantified in animals treated with nobiletin and compared with that of vehicle control. Histopathological analysis of the retinal sections was done using H&E stain and the outer limiting membrane to inner limiting membrane distance was measured. Further, outer nuclear membrane thickness was compared between the treatment groups. The study suggested that nobiletin reduced blood retinal barrier permeability and improved the thickness of retinal layers. Thus, treatment with nobiletin can be used as an approach to ameliorate diabetic retinopathy.

Robert Rogers

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A large segment of the Canadian population (approximately 71%) take natural health products, The Baseline Natural Health Products Survey among Consumers, suggesting this trend is likely to continue, with increasing awareness of side effects associated with pharmaceutical prescriptions and over the counter medications. Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is an often-overlooked herb with amazing medicinal properties. Traditional First Nations usage and modern pharmacology as well as clinical studies suggest its beneficial effects in a number of health concerns. Fireweed has been known to possess anti-inflammatory effects in addition to the recent evidence on its therapeutic effects for both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prevention of prostate cancers. This mini review provides some additional information obtained from First Nations healers, the empirical knowledge associated with clinical practice and aims to stimulate additional interest in the genus, and especially in the circumpolar species of Chamerion angustifolium.

Robert Rogers

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A large segment of the Canadian population (approximately 71%) take natural health products, The Baseline Natural Health Products Survey among Consumers, suggesting this trend is likely to continue, with increasing awareness of side effects associated with pharmaceutical prescriptions and over the counter medications. Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is an often-overlooked herb with amazing medicinal properties. Traditional First Nations usage and modern pharmacology as well as clinical studies suggest its beneficial effects in a number of health concerns. Fireweed has been known to possess anti-inflammatory effects in addition to the recent evidence on its therapeutic effects for both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prevention of prostate cancers. This mini review provides some additional information obtained from First Nations healers, the empirical knowledge associated with clinical practice and aims to stimulate additional interest in the genus, and especially in the circumpolar species of Chamerion angustifolium.