Antidiabetic actions of powdered plant and aqueous extract of allium sativum [Garlic] bulbs in type-II diabetic patients

To study hypoglycemic properties ofpowdered plant and aqueous extract of Allium sativum [Garlic] bulbs in type-II diabetics. Experimental human study. This study was conducted at the Hamdard Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Islamabad and Army Medical College Rawalpindi from_. The study was performed on 45 humans, which were divided into 3 groups i.e. Group A, B and C. Group A comprises of 15 patients of type-II diabetes, taking no drugs for diabetes. Group B comprises of 15 patients of Type-II diabetes taking oral hypoglycemic agents with inadequate control of blood sugar levels. Group C was control group, containing 15 healthy volunteers. The study was divided into 2 phases. Initially, after baseline sampling for blood glucose and urinary glucose, all the subjects were given powdered bulbs of Allium sativum orally, at low [20 mg/kg/d], intermediate [30 mg/kg/d] and high [45 mg/kg/d] doses, for 14 days. At day 15, blood and urine sampling was done. After 1 week, all the subjects were administered aqueous extract of Allium sativumbulbs orally, at low [20 mg/kg/d], intermediate [30 mg/kg/d] and high [45 mg/kg/d] doses, for 14 days. At the end, sampling was done again. Both dry powdered plant and aqueous extract of bulbs of Allium sativum [Garlic] decrease blood and urine glucose levels in type-II diabetics, especially in the groups who were taking oral hypoglycemics and had inadequate control of blood glucose previously. Allium sativum has significant hypoglycemic activity, particularly in high dose, and can be combined with oral hypoglycemic agents in type-II diabetics

introduction to general methodology for screening of medicinal plants

Screening of plants is essential to explore the presence of novel compounds and to investigate their biological activities. Once the presence of such compounds is suspected, they are generally isolated in order to have material available for further biological and toxicological test[1, 2]. It is a cumbersome, tedious and lengthy process that starts from the selection of suitable plant/s to find out their pure constituents.It involves a continued effort that might last from weeks to years and includes the following steps: 1.Correct identification of the plant with the aid of specialists [botanists]. 2. Collection and drying of the vegetable material; precautions need to be taken to avoid the formation of artifacts. 3. Preparation of extracts using different solvents; analysis of these extracts by different chromatographic methods. 4.Fractionation of the extracts by different preparative chromatographic techniques [column chromatography, centrifugal partition chromatography etc.]. 5. Purity control of the isolated products. 6. Structure elucidation of the constituents by combination of diverse spectroscopic techniques [UV/VIS, IR spectrophotometry, carbon and proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction] and chemical techniques [hydrolysis, formation of derivatives, degradation reactions etc.]. 7. Synthesis or semi-synthesis of the natural product. 8. Modification of structure with a view to establish structure-activity relationships. 9. Pharmacological and toxicological testing

Clinical investigation of hypoglycemic effect of Eugenia jambolana in type-II [NIDDM] diabetes mellitus

The present study was designed to investigate clinically the hypoglycemic effect of Eugenia jambolana in type-2 diabetes mellitus. After assaying fasting plasma and urinary glucose, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus with no previous medication, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus taking oral hypoglycemic agents with history of inadequate control and six control subjects were given low [2 gm thrice daily] and high [4gm thrice daily] doses of powdered part, aqueous extract and alcoholic extract of seeds of Eugenia jambolana - for 14 days. On l5thday blood and urine samples for glucose were taken. Based on results obtained it was found that Eugenia jambolana has significant hypoglycemic activity both in low and high doses

Clinical investigation of hypoglycemic effect of coriandrum sativum in type-2 [NIDDM] diabetic patients

The present study was designed to investigate clinically the hypoglycemic effect of Coriandrum sativum in Type-2 diabetes mellitus. After assaying fasting plasma and urinary glucose, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus with no previous medication, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus taking oral hypoglycemic agents with history of inadequate control and six control subjects were given low [2.5 g tid] and high [4.5 g tid] doses of powdered part, aqueous extract and alcoholic extract of Coriandrum sativum for 14 days. On 15[th] day blood and urine samples for glucose were taken. Based on results obtained it was found that Coriandrum sativum has significant hypoglycemic activity in high dose and can be successfully combined with oral hypoglycemic agents in type-2 diabetic patients whose diabetes is not controlled by these agents

Clinical investigation of hypoglycemic effect of leaves of Mangifera inidca in type-2 [NIDDM] diabetes mellitus

The present study was designed to investigate clinically the hypoglycemic effect of leaves of Mangifera indica in Type-2 diabetes mellitus. After assaying fasting plasma and urinary glucose, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus with no previous medicaion, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus taking oral hypoglycemic agents with history of inadequate control and six control subjects were given low [0.5 g/kg/d in two divide doses] and high [1 g/kg/d in two divided doses] doses of powdered part, aqueous extract and alcoholic extract of leaves of Mangifera indica for 14 days. On 15[th] day blood and urine samples for glucose were taken. Based on results obtained it was found that Mangifera indica has significant hypoglycemic activity in high dose and can be successfully combined with oral hypoglycemic agents in type-2 diabetic patients whose diabetes is not controlled by these agents

Clinical investigation of hypoglycemic effect of seeds of azadirachta-inidca in type-2 [NIDDM] diabetes mellitus

The present study was designed to investigate clinically the hypoglycemic effect of seeds of Azadirachta indica in Type-2 diabetes mellitus. After assaying fasting plasma and urinary glucose, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus with no previous medication, 10 patients of type-2 diabetes mellitus taking oral hypoglycemic agents with history of inadequate control and six control subjects were given low [0.5 g tid] and high [2 g tid] doses of powdered part, aqueous extract and alcoholic extract of Azadirachta indica for 14 days. On 15th day blood and urine samples for glucose were taken. Based on results obtained it was found that Azadirachta indica has significant hypoglycemic activity in high dose and can be successfully combined with oral hypoglycemic agents in type-2 diabetic patients whose diabetes is not controlled by these agents