Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Potentials of Aqueous and Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Anacardium occidentale in Alloxan Induced Type I Diabetic Rat Model.

Aim: The current study investigated the hypoglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects of the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Anarcardium occidentale in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Study Design: In vivo experiment. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, between Oct 2011 and Jan 2012. Methodology: Diabetes was induced in albino rats by the administration of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w.) intraperitoneally. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. occidentale (200 mg/kg b.w.) were administered by oral gavage once a day for a period of 21 days. The effect of the extracts on blood glucose, lipids, total protein, liver marker enzymes and also on enzymatic antioxidants of defence systems such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), enzyme activities, in liver and pancreas were studied. Results: Both aqeous and ethanolic extracts of A. occidentale reduced the blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) levels, total protein and activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in alloxan-diabetic rats. The extracts also significantly mitigated the increase in malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level, and increased SOD and CAT activities in both liver and pancreas. The levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly increased in A. occidentale treated diabetic rats in comparison with control group. Our findings suggest that both extracts of A. occidentale prevented the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia and increased MDA levels. These effects could be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals present in these extracts. Conclusion: These results suggest that A. occidentale extracts possess hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties.

In silico Studies on Plant Derived Rutin as Potent Agonist of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ).

Aims: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists are beneficial in the management of diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate PPAR-γ agonist property of rutin, a flavonoid found in many plant species compared to thiazolidenediones (TZDs) using in silico approach. Methodology: Molecular docking of rutin on human PPAR-γ protein was determined by Vina plugin in PYMOL 1.3 and compared with thiazolidinediones, a known agonist of PPARγ. Results: Rutin acts as a potential agonist with binding energy of - 7.8 kcal/mol compared to thiazolidinediones with binding energy of - 4.1 kcal/mol. The molecular interaction of rutin was at residues of GLU 319, ILE 369, LEU 368, MET 362, PHE 321, PHE 310, LEU 497, ALA 320, LYS 289, ILE 354. Conclusion: We conclude that rutin is a better PPARγ agonist than TZDs confirming the capability of rutin for binding at the active site of the PPARγ.