| Characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which insulin is not sufficiently produced or effectively used by the body. In fact, it is recognized as a global disease reaching epidemic proportions, affecting millions of people worldwide. The most common form is the type 2, in which individuals have insulin resistance, a pathological condition where cells are partially or no longer sensitive to insulin action.;Over the past decade, the discovery of a novel enzyme called protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1 B) and its potential role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus was uncovered. PTP1B acts as a negative regulator in the complex insulin signal transduction pathway, by dephosphorylating the tyrosine residues on the activation loop of the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Therefore, a reduction of PTP1 B activity would prove to be advantageous in augmenting insulin-initiated signaling events.;In this study, we utilized a "traditional" approach through the use of plant materials to investigate the inhibitory effect of herbal extracts on PTP1B in vitro. Specifically, we screened 9 herbs of Indian Ayurvedic and European origin, and discovered Symphytum offincale L. showed promising results. The aqueous extract of this European-derived plant lowered the activity (in %) of PTP1B the most in the preliminary screening assay. Furthermore, we were able to successfully isolate the compound of interest, named CRP-;To our best capability, we attempted to identify, characterize, and elucidate the chemical structure of CRP-... |
