ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the commonest endocrine disorder. The disease was well known to the ancient Indian medical experts. The modern pharmacopoeia contains many example of folk remedies which have led to the discovery of important therapies for a range of conditions. Traditional medicinal plants widely used and accounts for around 40 % of all health care delivered. In India indigenous medicines have been used in the treatment of DM since the time of Charaka and Sushruta (6th century BC). The main purpose of this research work is to document the anti-diabetic plants found in Puducherry. In this study the existing tradition of treating diabetes by 58 plants species, 52 genera comprise 36 families have been collected and summarized. The study reveals the persistence of folk medicine practices in Puducherry , especially in rural areas were people are still using indigenous traditional knowledge for health care, that are being influenced by cultural and socio-economical aspects, providing a cheaper and accessible alternative to the high cost pharmaceutical remedies. Present study does not prescribing any remedies for DM or any of the disease but the purpose is to document the use and draw the attention of pharmacologist, botanist, phytochemist and pharmocognosist for further scientific research in the field.
ABSTRACT
Assam is situated in the North Eastern part of India with laxurient floral and cultural diversity.The state is located at the foot hill of Eastern Himalaya, a biodiversity hot spot. Assam comprises of 27 districts. About 12.82% population of Assam are tribal. The tribal population of Assam can be broadly divided into Hill tribes and Plain tribes. The principal migrants have been the Austro- Astatics, the Dravidians, the Tebito-Burmans, the Mongoloids and the Aryans. Most of ethnic tribes of this region have their own herbal health care systems based on their original holistic culture. In this project work an attempt has been made during the year 2010 and 2011 to short out the anti diabetic plants used by the different tribes of Assam to deal with this deadly disease.
ABSTRACT
O efeito do tratamento via oral (20 mg/kg x day) com extrato hidroalcoólico de folhas de Averrhoa carambola L. (EHFC) sobre a glicemia de jejum (15 h) foi examinada ao compararmos ratos que receberam veículo (Grupo controle) ou EHFC (Grupo EHFC) durante 15 dias. O grupo EHFC apresentou menor glicemia de jejum (p<0,05). Em contraste, o grupo EHFC apresentou maior (p<0,05) produção hepática glicose a partir de L-alanina (5 mM). Este efeito foi mediado, pelo menos parcialmente, pela ativação do catabolismo da L-alanina, inferido pela maior produção hepática de uréia (p<0,05) e L-lactato (p<0,05). Diferente da L-alanina, a produção hepática de glicose a partir de L-glutamina (5 mM), L-lactato (2 mM) e glicerol (2 mM) no grupo EHFC foi similar ao grupo controle. Adicionalmente, o efeito do tratamento com EHFC sobre a captação de glicose no músculo soleus, inferida pela incorporação de [14C]-glicose em glicogênio (síntese de glicogênio) e produção de [14C]-lactato foi investigada, verificando-se resultados semelhantes nos dois grupos. Assim, concluiu-se que a redução da glicemia de jejum promovida pelo tratamento com EHFC não foi mediada por inibição da gliconeogenese hepática e/ou aumento da captação muscular de glicose.
The effect of the oral treatment (20 mg/kg x day) with the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Averrhoa carambola L. (HELAC) on fasting glycemia (15 h) was examined. For this purpose, rats that received vehicle (Control group) or HELAC (HELAC group) during 15 days were compared. HELAC group showed lower fasting glycemia (p<0.05). In contrast, livers from HELAC group showed higher (p<0.05) glucose production from L-alanine (5 mM). This effect was mediated, at least part of it, by an activation of the catabolism of L-alanine inferred by the increased hepatic urea (p<0.05) and L-lactate (p<0.05) production. Differently of L-alanine, the glucose production from L-glutamine (5 mM), L-lactate (2 mM) and glycerol (2 mM) was similar (Control group vs. HELAC group). In addition, the HELAC treatment did not change the glucose uptake in soleus muscles, inferred by the incorporation of [14C]-glucose to glycogen (glycogen synthesis) and [14C]-lactate production. Thus, we can conclude that the reduction of fasting glycemia promoted by the treatment with HELAC was not mediated by an inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis and/or an increased glucose uptake by muscles.