Identification and quantitative determination of 4-hydroxyisoleucine in trigonella foenum-graecum L. from Iran

The seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. [Fenugreek] are used in Iranian traditional medicine as blood sugar lowering agent. According to last investigations, hypoglycemic property is related to the amino acids of the plant specially 4-hydroxyisoleucine. In this research, identification and quantitative determination of 4-hydroxyisoleucine in Fenugreek seeds from Shahreza, central part of Iran, has been investigated. Methods: Powdered seeds of the plant were defatted and then extracted by using ethanol 50%. In order to isolation of 4-hydroxyisoleucine from the extract, ion exchange chromatography was used and the amino acid content was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography technique. The results showed the presence of 0.4% 4-hydroxyisoleucine in the plant seeds which is considerable amount of the amino acid in the plant collected from Iran. According to the effects of 4-hydroxyisoleucine such as antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties, fenugreek can be considered as an herbal remedy in supportive treatment of these disorders

Anti-hyperglycaemic activity of IND 01 and its interaction with glyburide and pioglitazone in alloxan induced diabetic mice

The antihyperglycaemic activity of IND 01 and its interaction with glyburide and pioglitazone on serum glucose, body weight and oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] was determined in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. IND 01 [100 mg/kg], glyburide [10 mg/kg], pioglitzone [10 mg/kg] and their concomitant administration were administered orally in alloxan [80 mg/kg, i.v.] induced diabetic mice. The study design consisted of estimation of serum glucose after acute, subacute and glucose load administration. Administration of IND 01 [100 mg/kg] alone significantly [p<0.001] reduced serum glucose level at 6 h after administration. The antihyperglycaemic effect of glyburide and their concomitant administration of IND 01 with glyburide were similar, that is, onset was 2 h; peak effect was 6 h but the effect waned at 24 h. The onset of concomitant administration of IND 01 with pioglitazone was 4 h; peak effect was at 6 h but the effect waned at 24 h. In the subacute study, reduction in serum glucose was observed on 28[th] day after withdrawal for 7 days. The effects of concomitant administration were more pronounced than single drug treatment. In mice treated with either IND 01 [100 mg/kg], glyburide, pioglitazone alone or their combination, the body weight was not reduced in contrast to that in the control group. In the oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT], increased glucose utilization was observed in animals after concomitant administration of IND 01 [100 mg/kg] and glyburide [10 mg/kg] as well as IND 01 [100 mg/kg] and pioglitazone [10 mg/kg]. The concomitant administration of IND 01 with glyburide as well as pioglitzone produced synergistic antihyperglycaemic effect than either drug alone