Canavalia brasiliensis lectin attenuates diabetes endothelial dysfunction in rats: structural basis and implication

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Mouse Electroacupuncture Fixation Device Fabrication for Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mouse Model
05:58

Mouse Electroacupuncture Fixation Device Fabrication for Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mouse Model

Published on: April 18, 2025

571

Eva Pollyanna P Laranjeira1, Débora Helen M da Silva1, Francisco Glerison da Silva Nascimento1

  • 1Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, 60714-903, Fortaleza, Brazil.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|November 13, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Canavalia brasiliensis lectin (ConBr) improves vascular function in diabetic rats by reducing vasoconstriction and inflammation. This plant lectin enhances nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and restores aorta morphology and contractility.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Diabetology

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, leading to vasoconstriction, inflammation, and thrombosis, often associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability.
  • Plant lectins from the Canavalia genus are known to induce endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, involving NO and the lectin domain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the ex vivo and in vivo effects of Canavalia brasiliensis lectin (ConBr) on the aorta of type 1 diabetic rats.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying ConBr's vascular effects in diabetes, including its impact on NO pathways and receptor interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Ex vivo assessment of ConBr's relaxant effect on phenylephrine-contracted and acetylcholine-relaxed isolated rat aorta from normoglycemic and diabetic rats.
  • In vivo administration of ConBr to diabetic rats, followed by analysis of aorta histopathology, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, and functional vascular responses.
  • Molecular docking simulations to explore ConBr's interaction with the insulin receptor.

Main Results:

  • ConBr demonstrated a significant relaxant effect on phenylephrine-contracted aorta in both normoglycemic and diabetic rats.
  • In diabetic rats, ConBr treatment in vivo improved aorta contractility, reduced morphological alterations, and increased eNOS expression.
  • ConBr's mechanism in normoglycemic rats involved NO and muscarinic receptors, while in diabetics, it additionally involved the PI3K/Akt pathway and TEA-sensitive channels.

Conclusions:

  • Canavalia brasiliensis lectin (ConBr) attenuates functional and morphological vascular alterations induced by diabetes.
  • The vascular benefits of ConBr in diabetes are mediated through the eNOS pathway, potentially involving muscarinic and insulin receptors.
  • ConBr shows therapeutic potential for managing vascular complications associated with diabetes.
Keywords:
ConBrDiabetesEndothelial dysfunctionInsulin receptorMuscarinic receptorNitric oxide

More Related Videos

A Method for Mouse Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Intracellular cAMP Determination12:33

A Method for Mouse Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Intracellular cAMP Determination

Published on: June 25, 2014

66.1K
Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain08:32

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain

Published on: January 4, 2018

10.8K

Related Concept Videos

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists01:24

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists

Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP.
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...
828
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a...
570
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
4.8K
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors01:19

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are...
511