[Investigation of alpha amylase and alpha-glucosidases inhibitory effects of Silybum marianum [L. Gaertn] seed extracts in vitro]

The alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase are the key enzymes involved in broken down of dietary polysaccharides to monosaccharides or simple sugars molecules. Inhibition of these two gastrointestinal enzymes especially in diabetic patients can reduce glucose absorption and decreases postprandial hyperglycemia. The present study was undertaken to explore the alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory effects of different silybum marianum seed extracts. Silybum marianum seeds were collected from the Institute of Medicinal Plants farm and total extract and different fractions were prepared by methanol, chloroform, hexane and ethyl acetate solvents. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were tested on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme separately. In this experiment, the minimum concentration of the extract required for 50% inhibition of enzyme activity [IC50], was obtained and compared with acarbose as a positive control. The results showed that total methanol extract and hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of silybum marianum seeds have inhibitory effects on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity. Statestical analysis showed that total methanol extract of silybum marianum seeds have stronger inhibitory effect than other fractions on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity compared to acarbose. Methanol extracts of silybum marianum seeds have stronger inhibitory effect than methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and chloroform fraction on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity

[ effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum J. presl on blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes, a double-blind clinical trial]

Cinnamomum zeylanicum J. Presl [cinnamon] have been used as food and herbal drug in Asia and Europe. Although some studies have been shown that cinnamon has blood glucose lowering effect but some reports denied it. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of cinnamon on blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was a double blind randomized controlled trial study. 61 type 2 diabetic patients with fasting blood glucose of 140 to 250 mg/dl were randomly divided in to two groups. The patients in cinnamon groups received two 500mg cinnamon capsules and patients in placebo group received two 500mg placebo capsules daily. The patients fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL were determined at starting and after 8 weeks at the end of the study. There was no significant difference in patients fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL between intervention groups compared with placebo on starting of the trial. Further results indicated that there were no significant difference between two groups regarding lowering of blood glucose, HbA1c, and blood lipids after 8 week of cinnamon and placebo treatment. According to the study results, consumption of one gram of cinnamon per day, do not have blood glucose lowering effects

effects of cynara scolymus L. leaf and cichorium intybus L. root extracts on carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity in rats

Cynara scolymus and Cichorium intybus are popular herbal remedy in folk medicine for liver disorders. Although many experimental studies carried out, scientifically reliable data needed to verify minimum effective dosage and efficacy of these medicinal plants. In present investigation, the effects of C. scolymus leaf and C. intybus root extracts at different doses were tested against CCl[4] induced rats liver toxicity. The C. scolymus leaf and C. intybus root extracts at the doses of 300, 600 and 900 and 150, 300 and 450 mg/kg/day were prepared respectively. Liver intoxication was induced in 7 groups of rats by intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg of 1:1 CCl[4] in olive oil for two successive days. One group kept as control and six different doses of plant extracts were administered to six groups simultaneously with CCl[4] administration. The serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP, liver tissue glutathione and catalase activity as well as liver tissue microvesicular steatosis [MVS] and pericentral coagulation necrosis [PCN] were determined after three days. The serum ALT, AST and ALP and liver tissue MVS were significantly reduced in both the C. scolymus and C. intybus groups at the doses of 900 and 450 mg/kg/day respectively while liver tissue PCN significantly reduced in C. scolymus 900 mg/kg/day group only as compared to control group. In present study administration of the C. scolymus leaf [900 mg/kg/day] and C. intybus root [450 mg/kg/day] extracts ameliorated CCl[4] induced rat serum liver enzyme changes and liver tissue histopathological damage

effect of silybum marianum [L] Gaertn. seed extract [Silymarin] on galactose induced cataract formation in rats

Increased oxygen free radical and reduced glutathione level in the eye lens are important risk factor for cataract formation. The antioxidative property and increasing cellular and extra cellular glutathione level have been reported by several herbal medicines including silymarin. In present interventional study Silybum marianum L. seed extract [silymarin] was tested against galactose-induced cataract development in rats. Thirty male 45 days old wistar rats [150-200 g], were divided in three groups of 10 rats each. Cataract was induced in two groups of rats following feeding them with 30% galactose diet for 40 days. One group kept as control and silymarin in the dose of 200 mg/kg/d was administered orally [mixed with galactose diet] to other group for 40 days. Cataract development in the rats lens was observed daily by ophthalmoscope and naked eye during the study. The glutathione [GSH] and lipid peroxides [LPO] levels were determined after 20 days in all rats left eye lens. The results indicated that, in silymarin treated group all stage of cataract development were significantly delayed as compared to control group. In rats treated with silymarin the lens GSH level was increased significantly [P < 0.01] and LPO levels was decreased significantly as compared to control group [P < 0.05]. Administration of silymarin to galactose fed rats showed beneficial effect on prevention of cataract development as well as antioxidative defence system such as increase in lens GSH and decrease LPO levels

[Review of antihyperlipedemic herbal medicine]

Hyperlipedimia especially increased blood cholesterol level is a chronic metabolic disease with several risk factor in etiology. Although several lipid-lowering drugs are prescribed but still hyperlipedimia is a main corn stone of attention in patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Presently, the use of herbal medicines for prevention and control of chronic hyperlipidemia is in the focus of attention for both the patients and physicians. The reasons for such shift toward the use of herbal medicine include: the expensive cost of conventional drugs, adverse drug reactions, and good efficacy of lipid lowering herbal medicine. Epidemiological studies indicate that diet restriction, alternative treatment and use of herbal medicine are a low coast and good direction in for controlling hyperlipedimia. Presently the use of herbal medicine by hyperlipedimic patients is considerably increases even in industrialized societies. However its uses is more pronounce among those patients which are resistant to conventional drug therapy. Although herbal therapy may induce beneficial effect, but due to irregular consumption and unspecified doses may render unsatisfactory lipid control and even herbal-conventional drug interaction. In present article the efficacy, drug interaction and side effect of common antihyperlipidemic herbal medicine is reviewed

Study of the different solvents on silymarin extraction from milk thistle

The seeds extract of Milk thistle [Silybum marianum [L]Gaertn]is named silymarin It is used widely in the treatment of cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. There are different methods for production of this compound but the best method is patented. In this study, we study the power of different solvents on silymarin production. 10g of three samples [Marzanabad, Golshan and Hungarian samples cultivated in our research farm], powdered and defatted by petroleum ether, the degatted powders were extracted with one of the following solvents: Methanol, ethanol acetone, ethylacetate, and acetonitril. The silymarin content was assayed by HPLC The results showed that methanol is the best solvent in extracting silymarin and all of its components after methanol, acetone and acetonitril had good power, in extracting silymarin and silybin Methanol is the best solvent for silymarin extraction and then acetone and acetonitril could be replaced for it