In vitro evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of the traditionally known as anti-diabetes medicinal plant Asparagus aphyllus in primary isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Many metabolic diseases including, but not limited to, diabetes and obesity are accompanied by low grade inflammatory. In the case of diabetes type II, which is a complex metabolic disease that result in the development of impaired insulin signaling and β-cell dysfunction, insulin resistance, sub-clinical inflammation and increased oxidative stress are observed.  Pro-inflammatory cytokines (in particular TNF-a) are involved in insulin resistance. Therefore, successful diabetes prevention/treatment managements have to take these inflammatory process into account. In recent decades, a number of epidemiological investigations have shown that diet rich in foods with high-content of phytochemicals, and high total antioxidant capacity may be related to lower risk of diabetes and predisposing factors. Based on Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine and our recently published data, Asparagus aphyllus-L extracts represents a potential candidate for the development of diabetes herbal-based therapy. The aim of the proposed study is to confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of the traditionally known anti-diabetes plant Asparagus aphyllus-L and to go a step forward in identification of the responsible active compound/s. Therefore, we plan to test the effects of Asparagus aphyllus-L extracts (methanol, hexane and dichloromethane extracts) in primary isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs).