Anti-Inflammatory and Insulin-Modulating Effects of Tithonia-Curcuma-Moringa (TCM) Formulation in Type 2 Diabetes: An Experimental Study in Mice

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and insulin-modulating effects of Tithonia-Curcuma-Moringa (TCM) formulation in type 2 diabetes model. Male BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: normal control, type 2 diabetes control, metformin treatment, and three TCM formulation treatment groups with three different dose combinations. Type 2 diabetes was induced using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection, supported by sucrose administration. After 21 days of treatment, the spleen and pancreas were isolated for flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that the expression levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in CD4 T helper cells were significantly higher in diabetic mice compared to normal mice. Combination 1 (T. diversifolia 500 mg/kg BW+C. longa 200 mg/kg BW+M. oleifera 300 mg/kg BW) exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory effect, significantly reducing the expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, and IFN-γ to levels comparable to those observed with metformin treatment. The proportion of T cells CD4+CD25+ was significantly increased in diabetic mice, indicating T cell activation, and then significantly decreased after administration of metformin and combination 3; insignificantly combinations 1 and 2. Insulin expression was significantly decreased in diabetic mice and then insignificantly increased by metformin and two combinations (1 and 2). In conclusion, the combination 1 TCM formulation demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory and suggested a potential insulin-modulating effect comparable to metformin in the type 2 diabetic mouse model, showing its role as an alternative treatment for managing chronic inflammation associated with type 2 diabetes.