Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a traditional folk medicine and functional food in China and South Korea, is known for its beneficial properties, which include anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, and anti-obesity effects. To assess the anti-hyperglycemic effect of jujube in this study, we investigated the glucose uptake-promoting activity of jujube in rat L6 myotubes. After determining that the jujube extract induces muscle glucose uptake, we identified the following active compounds by bioassay-guided fractionation: betulonic acid, betulinic acid, and oleanonic acid. Ursonic acid, known to be present in jujube, was semi-synthesized from ursolic acid and also observed to enhance glucose uptake. These four triterpenic acids induced glucose uptake in a glucose transporter 4-dependent manner. Comparison experiments of jujube fruits from three countries, namely, China, South Korea, and Japan, revealed that Japanese jujube has a higher content of active triterpenoids and is the most potent enhancer of glucose uptake.
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PMID:Triterpenoids Isolated from Ziziphus jujuba Enhance Glucose Uptake Activity in Skeletal Muscle Cells. 2875 34

Fruits are colorful, flavorful, and nutritious components and play an important role for the vital health and maintenance of our body. Experimental evidences suggested that fruits contain various bioactive constituents including flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Because of these, fruits are receiving greater attention to treat and/or control various health complications such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune system decline, and certain neurological disorders. Experimental evidences from various in vitro and in vivo imply that fruit extracts and/or isolated bioactive compounds are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, fruits have the potential to be converted into functional foods as well as pharmaceuticals to prevent or/and treat several chronic complications. In the present article, we review current knowledge about the bioactivities and health benefits of selected Indian fruits for the treatment/management of the chronic health complications in humans. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review provides practical information about how best to take advantage of the bioactive compounds and health implications of the South Indian fruits like Bael, Jujube, Cotton Candy Berry, and Manilla Tamarind as a potential source of functional and nutritive compounds. It aims at emphasizing the most recent findings on biological effects of major groups of fruits like Bael, Jujube, Cotton Candy Berry, and Manilla Tamarind and their major components, their medical interest, potential drug interaction, notably for human nutrition, health benefits, and therapeutic impacts.
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PMID:Traditional fruits of South India: Bioactive components and their potential health implications in chronic diseases. 3252 77