image: Tissue sections were incubated with rabbit polyclonal anti-TNF-α antibody, followed by HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit polyclonal secondary antibody. The protein was visualized by hematoxylin counterstain. Representative photomicrographs were shown at ×100. (a) Normal pellet diet control- Normal adipose tissue architecture; (b) HFD control – Presence of adipose tissue hypertrophy and increased TNF-α infiltration; (c) HFD+MD-1(100 mg/kg b.wt) – Presence of adipose tissue hypertrophy and increased TNF-α infiltration; (d) HFD+MD-1(300 mg/kg b.wt) – Moderate decrease in adipose tissue hypertrophy and TNF-α infiltration; (e) HFD+MD-1 (500 mg/kg b.wt)- Normal adipose tissue architecture and decreased TNF-α infiltration; (F) HFD + Metformin (500 mg/kg b.wt) – Normal adipose tissue architecture and no TNF-α infiltration. ANOVA, analysis of variance; HFD, high-fat diet; HRP, horse radish peroxidase; SEM, standard error mean; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.
Credit: Mangathayaru Kalachaveedu
Background and objectives
MD-1 is a time-tested polyherbal diabetes supplement in Tamil Nadu, India. It is composed of dried powdered herbs: Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn, Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. F. & Thoms, Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Eugenia jambolana Lam., Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. Ex, and Cassia auriculata Linn. This study aimed to investigate the in vivo effects of MD-1 in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetes mellitus in C57BL/6J mice.
Methods
After 10 weeks of HFD induction, diabetic mice (n = 60) were randomized to 21-day treatments with MD-1, metformin, or left untreated on a standard pellet diet. Fasting blood glucose, triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol, and liver tissue markers including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, glucokinase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase expressions were measured. Adipose tissue tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α infiltration and messenger RNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and glucose transporter type 4 (Glut4) were also analyzed.
Results
MD-1 treatment significantly reduced elevated fasting blood glucose, TAG, and total cholesterol in HFD-fed mice and countered HFD-induced weight gain despite unchanged caloric intake. Improved adipose tissue function was evidenced by reduced TNF-α infiltration and increased messenger RNA expression of PPAR-γ and Glut4. MD-1 attenuated HFD-induced fatty liver disease by reducing oxidative stress and TAG accumulation, suggesting a possible two-hit mechanism.
Conclusions
MD-1 administration primarily targeted TNF-α signaling in WAT tissue of HFD mice, thereby restoring adipose tissue function. The concomitant reduction in hepatic TAG, accompanied by decreased macrophage infiltration, suggests protection against NAFLD in HFD mice. Reduction of blood glucose levels from diabetic to prediabetic levels and a considerable decrease in body weight (HFD + MD-1 500 mg/kg b.wt) after three weeks of MD-1 administration indicate its protective role in obesity-associated DM. The beneficial effects of MD-1 supplementation in diet-induced metabolic syndrome reinforce the scientific validity of traditional knowledge systems predating the modern scientific era.
Full text
https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2572-5505/JERP-2025-00013
The study was recently published in the Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology.
Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology (JERP) publishes original innovative exploratory research articles, state-of-the-art reviews, editorials, short communications that focus on novel findings and the most recent advances in basic and clinical pharmacology, covering topics from drug research, drug development, clinical trials and application.
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Journal
Journal of Exploratory Research in Pharmacology
Article Title
Polyherbal Dietary Supplement MD-1 Ameliorates Severity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in High-fat Diet-fed C57BL/6J Mice by Attenuating Adipose Tissue Inflammation
Article Publication Date
28-Jun-2025