Chronic hypoglycemic effect of Malmea depressa root on n5-streptozotocin diabetic rats.

The root of the "Elemuy" tree (Malmea depressa) is highly used in south east Mexico by the Mayan communities to treat type 2 diabetes. The long-term hypoglycemic effect (HbA1c) and the stimulation of insulin secretion resulting from the treatment with butanolic extract was studied using (n5-stz)-induced diabetic rats. We show that after 30 days of daily administration of 10 mg/kg of the butanolic extract, the glucose levels as well as the (HbA1c) levels were lower compared to the control group. This effect was also observed after 45 days of treatment, leading to the conclusion that the effects of chronic butanolic extract treatment are comparable to treatment with the standard drug Bieuglucon. In an acute experiment, we found that a single administration of the extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg stimulates insulin release, which is similar to the result seen with Tolbutamide administration. The new compound, 3-(3-hydroxy-2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) propane-1,2 diol, was isolated from the active fraction of the butanolic extract. The results presented here support the utility of the traditional use of the root and suggest that the active fraction of the plant extract could be developed as a phytomedicine.

Disease-Consensus Index as a tool of selecting potential hypoglycemic plants in Chikindzonot, Yucatán, México.

There is a general lack of adequate methods to quantitatively assess the importance of specific medicinal plants in a culture. In Mexico like in many other countries type 2 diabetes is an increasing health problem and the use of medicinal plants to treat this disease is widespread. In the present study we propose a mathematical tool for analysing ethnopharmacological field data, with the ultimate aim to select species with most prominent impact on a community to treat a single disease. Using this tool in a Yucatec Mayan community we demonstrate that Malmea depressa (Baill.) R.E. Fr. and Cecropia peltata L. are culturally most salient hypoglycemic plants in this community.

Hypoglycemic effect of Malmea depressa root on streptozotocin diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic effects of water, ethanolic and butanolic extracts prepared from the root of Malmea depressa (Baill) R.E. Fries. (Annonaceae) were studied in diabetic rats (streptozotocin induced). Oral application of water extracts at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, ethanolic (112 mg/kg) and butanolic (80 mg/kg) extracts significantly lowered the plasma glucose levels in diabetic rats within three hours. Glibenclamide and metformin were used as references and showed similar hypoglycemic effects like the extracts. The three extracts have a similar chemical composition (HPLC analysis).

Aspectos cardiovasculares del diabético hipertenso: estudio retrospectivo de 150 casos; Hospital "José Gregorio Hernández" I.V.S.S. - Caracas / Cardiovascular aspects of hypertensive diabetic patients: retrospective study of 150 cases; Hospital José Gregorio Hernández I.V.S.S. - Caracas

Se revisaron algunos aspectos cardiovasculares relacionados con la hipertensión arterial presente en pacientes diabéticos, hospitalizados en el Hospital "José G. Hernández". I.V.S.S. Caracas. Desde hace muchos años se conoce la especial tendencia que tienen los diabéticos para presentar enfermedades vasculares y ésto ha sido documentado en numerosos estudió epidemiológicos, clínicos y anatomo-patológicos. Pero el papel de la hipertensión en diabéticos no ha sido todavía claramente definido, ni bien conocido. Nuestro estudio demuestra una incidencia de hipertensión en diabéticos hospitalizados de 40,5%. 125 casos (83,3%) tenían DM tipo II (DM estable del adulto) y 25 casos (16,7%) tenían DM tipo I (DM tipo juvenil). El diagnóstico de cardiopatía isquémica e hipertensiva se hizo en 128 casos (85,3%). Em 38 casos (25,3%) encontramos insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva. En 25 casos (16,6%) hallazgos electrocardiográficos de infarto miocárdico antiguo no reconocidos previamente ("silentes"). Se encontró nefropatía diabética en 31 casos (20,6%) y fue la responsable de los casos de H. A. Secundaria. En 119 casos (79,3%) encontramos hipertensión "esencial". El porcentaje de mortalidad fue del 12%