Patients with diabetes with end stage renal disease have both lipid and apoprotein portions of LDL cholesterol modified by non-enzymatic advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). These chemical reactions occur in diabetic patients because of their high glucose concentrations. In the blood of diabetes patients hemoglobin is glycated (HbA1c) which is very harmful to humans. The principal glycosylation site of albumin in vivo is Lys-525 and this lies in a Lys-Lys, Lys-His, and Lys-His-Lys sequence. In order to inhibit the formation of AGEs, compounds such as aminoguanidine and certain supplements benfotiamine, a fat soluble form of thiamine, the amino acid histidine, beta-alanine, alpha-lipoic acid a potent antioxidant have been tried. We recently evaluated (ACS 2012, ACS AGFD 2012) the inhibitory effects of compounds present in Okra Seed Extracts (OSE) and compared with aminoguanidine a well-known glycation inhibitor by a fluorescent method. Bioactives in OSE were comparable to aminoguanidine which prevents the formation of reactive dicarbonyls which get converted to AGEs. Inhibition of AGEs by OSE follows the same mechanism as elucidated by aminoguanidine and we believe the principal glycosylation site Lys-525 is also similar.  Recent studies published in Circulation Reseach (2012) concluded that the blood,-pressure lowering effects of red wine were attributed to the beneficial effects of polyphenols and not the alcohol content in red wine. Furthermore, their research suggested drinking nonalcoholic red wine was responsible for controlling high blood pressure as well as Cardiovascular Risk. We believe the antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic flavonoids present in OSE is potentially responsible for reducing platelet aggregation, reducing AGEs as well as plasma cholesterol levels by inhibiting LDL oxidation.

Okra seed phytochemicals: Potential new medicines for glycemic control

245th National Meeting (2013)

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