Effect of Pterocarpus santalinus bark, on blood glucose, serum lipids, plasma insulin and hepatic carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of bark of Pterocarpus santalinus, an ethnomedicinal plant, on blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum lipids and the activities of hepatic glucose metabolizing enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated (acute/short-term and long-term) with ethyl acetate:methanol fractions of ethanolic extract of the bark of P. santalinus. Fasting blood glucose, HbA(1C), plasma insulin and protein were estimated before and after the treatment, along with hepatic glycogen, and activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Further anti-hyperlipidemic activity was studied by measuring the levels of serum lipids and lipoproteins. RESULTS: Phytochemical analysis of active fraction showed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides and phenols. Biological testing of the active fraction demonstrated a significant antidiabetic activity by reducing the elevated blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin, improving hyperlipidemia and restoring the insulin levels in treated experimental induced diabetic rats. Further elucidation of mechanism of action showed improvement in the hepatic carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes after the treatment. Our present investigation suggests that active fraction of ethanolic extract of bark of P. santalinus decreases streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia by increasing glycolysis and decreasing gluconeogenesis.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of methanol:water (4:1) fraction isolated from aqueous extract of Syzygium alternifolium seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

The present study was taken up to identify potent antihyperglycemic fraction from the aqueous extract of Syzygium alternifolium (SA) seeds, using bioassay guided fractionation. The isolated fraction C at a dose of 50 mg/kg.b.w produced the maximum fall of 83% in the blood glucose level in the diabetic rats after 6 h of the treatment. The administration of fraction C (50 mg/kg.b.w) once daily for 30 days in STZ diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin with a significant rise in plasma insulin level. Further fraction C showed antihyperlipidemic activity as evidenced by significant decrease in serum TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C levels coupled together with elevation of HDL-C level in diabetic rats. A significant decrease in the activities of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and decreased levels of serum urea and creatinine in diabetic treated rats when compared to diabetic untreated rats, indicate the protective role against liver and kidney damage and non-toxic property of the fraction C. A comparison was made between the action of fraction C and antidiabetic drug glibenclamide (20 mg/kg.b.w). The effect of fraction C was more prominent when compared to that of glibenclamide.

Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity of ethyl acetate:isopropanol (1:1) fraction of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Ethanolic extract prepared from the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic activity in STZ (Streptozotocin) induced diabetic rats. Administration of ethanolic extract at a dosage of 0.50 g/kg bw produced the maximum fall (82%) in the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats after 6 h of treatment. Bioassay-directed fractionation using silica gel column chromatography was performed. Among the five fractions (A1, B1, C1, A2 and B2) obtained, of an initial chromatographic separation of the ethanolic extract, fraction A2 (100 mg/kg bw) showed the maximum antihyperglycemic activity which is significantly higher than that of the reference drug glibenclamide (20 mg/kg bw). Administration of the active fraction (100 mg/kg bw) for 45 days resulted in significant reduction in plasma glucose, HbA1(C), cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, free fatty acids, phospholipids and HMG-CoA reductase in STZ diabetic rats. In addition to that, significant decrease in plasma insulin, protein, HDL and hepatic glycogen observed in STZ diabetic rats, was normalized after 45 days of treatment with the active fraction of V. anthelmintica seeds. From the present study, it is evident that, the seeds of V. anthelmintica possess significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic property without evident toxic effects.

Isolation and characterization of a novel antihyperglycemic protein from the fruits of Momordica cymbalaria.

AIM OF THE STUDY: A new antihyperglycemic protein was identified in the aqueous extract of fruits of Momordica cymbalaria by bioassay-guided fractionation. The study was aimed at isolation and characterization of this protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active principle was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration column chromatography on Sephadex G-50 followed by reverse phase HPLC. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence was identified and compared in the protein data bank. Optimum dose and route of administration of the active principle was determined in STZ induced diabetic rats. RESULTS: A 17kDa protein with an isoelectric point of 5.0 was identified as the active principle of antidiabetic action present in the aqueous extract of fruits of MC. It is named as M.Cy protein and found to be a novel protein by comparing its N-terminal amino acid sequence with those in the protein data bank. It did not produce any hypoglycemia in either normal or diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that 'M.Cy protein', present in the fruits of Momordica cymbalaria is an effective antihyperglycemic active principle in STZ induced diabetic rats at a dose of 2.5mg/kg b.w.