ABSTRACT
The biochemical effect of S-1,3-butanediol on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats was studied. Rats were made diabetic by the intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin in sodium citrate buffer. A dosage of 25 mmol/kg body weight of S-1,3-butanediol was injected intraperitoneally for treatment. The streptozotocin induced diabetic rats showed a marked increase in blood glucose level, and significant increase in the level of cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. The glycogen levels in liver and kidney were greatly decreased in diabetic rats. Treatment with butanediol normalised the glucose and glycogen level but had no significant effect on protein and lipid levels.
Subject(s)
Animals , Blood Glucose/analysis , Blood Proteins/drug effects , Butylene Glycols/administration & dosage , Cholesterol/blood , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood , Disease Models, Animal , Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/blood , Glycogen/metabolism , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Kidney/drug effects , Liver/drug effects , Male , Rats , Stereoisomerism , Streptozocin/administration & dosage , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
The Siddha drug--Vatharasavangam (VRV) was studied in rabbits for its hypoglycemic activity. The insulin level in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic animals increased significantly after treatment with VRV. The insulin release from the isolated islets to glucose stimulus and acid phosphatase activity in islets as an index to islet function were measured. The insulin released from the islets in hyperglycemic rabbits decreased from 70 microU/ml (control) to 32 microU/ml to low glucose stimulus. VRV-treated rabbits showed a significant increase in the insulin released from the islet cells (65 microU/ml) to the low glucose stimulus. Similarly, a significant increase of insulin secretion was observed for high glucose stimulus after 30 min in VRV treated rabbits (100 microU/ml), when compared to hyperglycemic rabbits (70 microU/ml). The islet cell acid phosphatase activity in the hyperglycemic rabbits increased significantly after VRV treatment. These findings suggest that VRV acts by stimulating beta-cells to secrete insulin to the glucose signal and improves blood glucose homeostasis.
Subject(s)
Acid Phosphatase/metabolism , Animals , Hyperglycemia/physiopathology , Insulin/metabolism , Islets of Langerhans/drug effects , Male , Medicine, Ayurvedic , Plants, Medicinal , RabbitsABSTRACT
Vatharasavangam (VRV) is a hypoglycemic drug mentioned in the Siddha Literature. Previous studies showed that VRV therapy brings down the blood glucose levels in the hyperglycemic rabbits. The present intestinal perfusion studies with labelled glucose indicate that the blood glucose homeostatis in VRV treated animals is brought about by a significant reduction in the rate of glucose absorption in the intestine. Further an enhanced incorporation of 14C glucose into tissue glycogen is observed in the VRV treated rabbits when compared to the hyperglycemic rabbits.