ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDAEMIC EFFECTS OF THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES AND STEM OF CISSUS GRACILLIS (GULL ET PERR) (VITACEAE)

Objectives: This study investigated the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of the ethanol extract of the leaves and stem of Cissus gracillis on alloxan monohydrate-induced diabetic albino rats. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening and acute toxicity were carried out. Animals were assigned into seven groups of five rats each. Groups A and B were administered 10 mg/kg each of glibenclamide and atorvastatin respectively, C, D, and E were given 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of ethanol extract of C. gracillis, respectively, daily for 21 days through oral gavage, group F was diabetic but untreated (diabetic control group), while group G was non-diabetic and untreated which served as the control group. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids/triterpenoids and carbohydrates. LD50 was above 5000 mg/kg. The extract at 500 mg/kg showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in blood glucose level when compared with the glibenclamide group on day 21. However, gradual non- significant reduction in blood glucose levels were observed in the extract treated groups on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days of treatment. The administration of ethanol extract of C. gracillis to alloxan-induced diabetic rats produced a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins comparable to glibenclamide and atorvastatin. Conclusion: The ethanol extract of the leaves and stem of C. gracillis possess a mildly significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity.

Comparative studies on the hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of Vernonia amygdalina delile and Baccharoides tenoreana olive in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats

Background Vernonia amygdalina is a bitter culinary vegetable known to possess anti-diabetic principle. Baccharoides tenoreana belonging to the same species as V. amygdalina, is also used in cooking soup and it is comparatively non-bitter. However, its glycemic properties have not been studied. This study becomes imperative to find out if B. tenoreana possesses hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties and how it compares with V. amygdalina. Should B. tenoreana be better than V. amygdalina, it should be preferable since it is non-bitter and can comfortably be taken compared to V. amygdalina. This study investigated the comparative hypoglycemic and antioxidant potentials of V. amygdalina (VA) and B. tenoreana (BT). Methods Thirty male Albino wistar rats assigned into six groups of five rats per group were used for the study. Diabetes was induced in groups B-F rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate at 160 mg/kg. Groups C-E rats were treated with VA (200 mg/kg), BT (200 mg/kg) and combination of VA & BT (100 mg/kg each) respectively. Group F rats were administered glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) whereas groups A and B rats were given distilled water. All treatments were through the oral administration, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were determined after 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, 7 days, 14 days and 21 days while lipid profile, in vivo antioxidant and pancreatic histomorphology were assessed on day 21 post-treatment. Results The VA-treated rats recorded marginally reduced FBG, malondialdehyde and low-density lipoprotein levels when compared to the counterpart treated with BT. The high-density lipoprotein values were significantly higher in VA-treated rats than in BT-treated rats. The histomorphology of the pancreas of VA-treated rats expressed more islet cells compared to the counterpart treated with VT. Conclusion Both VA and BT exhibited hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities with varying potencies.

Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Total Phenols from Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Leaves Treated Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Aims: Ethyl acetate fraction of total phenols from Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides leaves was evaluated for its effects in alloxan-induced diabetic male albino rats. Methodology: Diabetes was induced in rats by administrating alloxan monohydrate at a dose of 130 mg/kg body weight. The ethyl acetate fraction was administered to rats at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. daily for 15 days. Blood glucose, lipid profile and pancreatic histopathology were monitored using standard methods. Results: Results indicated that two weeks after treatment with Z. zanthoxyloides, significant (p<0.05) reductions in hyperglycemic blood glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were recorded; with lowest values recorded in the group treated with the highest concentration of the extract. Histopathological examination of pancreatic tissues supported the protective effect of Z. zanthoxyloides phenol extract against diabetic damage. Conclusion: In conclusion, total phenols of Z. zanthoxyloides exerted antidiabetic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and protected pancreatic tissues from diabetic damage.

Osteoprotective Effects of ‘Anti-Diabetic’ Polyherbal Mixture in Type 1 Diabetic Rats

Bone loss leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis is a frequent secondary complication of diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the value of a traditionally used ‘anti-diabetic’ polyherbal mixture as a possible remedy for the prevention of this complication. Diabetes was induced in Wistar female rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate. The animals with blood glucose higher than 20 mmol/L for 14 consecutive days were considered diabetic. For the next 14 days, animals were treated with two concentrations of the polyherbal mixture (10 and 20 g of dry plant material/ kg). Bone histopathology was evaluated using the H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining. Alloxan-induced diabetes triggered bone histological changes characteristic for the development of osteopenia and osteoporosis and treatment with the polyherbal decoction restored these histopathological changes of the bones to the healthy animal level. At the same time, treatment with these tested doses has shown no adverse effects. These findings suggest that this mixture might be used as a remedy for the prevention of diabetic bone loss.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Ficus Glomerata Leaves in Alloxan Monohydrate Induced Type-1 Diabetes in Albino Rats

Present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic efficacy of Ficus glomerata in Alloxan monohydrate induced albino rats. Oral administration of fresh Ficus glomerataleaves (2 - 4 g/day) for 60 days shows significant blood glucose lowering effect in experimental alloxan induced diabetic rats. These diabetic rats blood glucose level became normal when fed with Ficus glomerata leaves. It is amply revealed that fresh Ficus glomerata indica leaves possessed anti-diabetic properties. The results suggest that statistically significant anti-diabetic potential in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats. The Ficus glomerata leaves to be almost similar effect like insulin treatment in alloxan monohydrate administered animal model. From the present investigation it appeared that Ficus glomerata leaves might have some ingredients to increase the output of insulin by binding to the receptors of the Beta cells of the Langerhans located in the pancreas. Once they bind to the Sulphonyl urea receptors, the K+ -ATP channels are probably closed and therefore the membrane is depolarized and insulin production is stimulated.

Phytochemical compositions, and hypoglycemic effect of methanol leaf extract of Telfairia Occidentalis in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Background: The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diabetes is increasing due to several reasons such as safety, affordability and efficacy. In the present study, the phytochemical compositions and hypoglycemic effect of the methanol leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (ML-TO) were investigated. Methods: Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard methods. Fifteen rats were divided into 5 groups (n=3). Diabetes was induced in rats allocated to groups A-D using alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg BW) and was treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg BW ML-TO, 5 mg/kg BW glibenclamide and 5 ml/kg BW normal saline respectively. All treatments were administered orally, once daily for 29 days. Results: The results revealed that the ML-TO contains phenols, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, glycosides while flavonoids and saponins were not detected. Quantitatively, total phenols (9570±13.24 µg/mg) was the most abundant phytochemicals identified while tannins (3000.56±23.45 µg/mg) and alkaloids (0.2378±0.013µg/mg) were also present in appreciable amount in ML-TO. The extract produced a significant (p <0.05) and dose-dependent hypoglycemic effect with maximum activities occurring at 400 mg/kg BW having suppressed the fasting blood glucose levels from 334±33.62 to 137±37.31 mg/dL while the rats treated with 200 mg/kg BW lowered blood glucose level from 386±171 to 174±108.55mg/dL. The standard antidiabetic drug (Glibenclamide) produced a comparable hypoglycemic effect and suppressed the FBS from 350±169.74 to125±76.35 mg/dL. Conclusion: ML-To had a significant hypoglycemic effect and was able to ameliorate the weight loss in the diabetic rats, hence it could serve as a source of potential hypoglycemic agent

Investigation of Pomegranate Seed Oil Effects on the Renal Function in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Male Rabbits

Diabetes is a chronic disease which has reached pandemic proportions in a lot of countries of the world. In spite of the remarkable development in therapeutics chemistry, the usage of customary drugs is still a common practice for the treatment of diabetes. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) on kidney functions in the experimentally-induced diabetes in male rabbits. Diabetes was experimentally introduced by the intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg BW). After three days of alloxan injection, samples were taken for the determination of glucose concentration. Serum glucose concentration of 200mg/ml was considered as an indication of animal diabetes. The experimental part was begun after 7 days of alloxan injection. Thirty two adult male rabbits were arbitrarily separated into four groups and treated daily for 45 days. Group 1 was kept with no treatment, group 2 included animals treated with 30mg/kg BW PSO, group 3 included diabetic animals that received alloxan with a dose of 150mg/kg BW, and, finally, group 4 included animals that received alloxan (150mg/kg BW) and treated with PSO (30mg/kg BW). Fasting blood samples were collected by heart puncture technique after 45days of experiments to assess glucose levels.

Anti-malaria and hypoglycaemic activities of Diosgenin on alloxan-induced, diabetic Wistar rats

The rising threat of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to Monotherapies has prompted the world health organization (WHO) 2006 guidelines to recommend the use of different anti-malarias. In this study, the anti-malaria and hypoglycaemic activities of Diosgenin, a potent, yet poorly reported saponin was investigated on P. falciparum inoculated and Alloxan-Induced, Diabetic Wistar Rats. Fort two (42) adult male wistar rats of between 100g and 150g were procured, acclimatized (for two weeks), and grouped into seven of six (6) rats per group. While Group 1 (Normal control) received normal rat chow and water ad libitum, groups 2 – 4 received no treatment (untreated), 10 mg/kg body weight of anti-diabetic Metformin and 25 mg/kg body weight of diosgenin respectively after inducing diabetes mellitus (DM) with alloxan monohydrate; whereas, groups 5-7 (all malaria infected) were untreated (negative malaria control), 25 mg/kg body weight of diosgenin and 56 mg/kg body weight of anti-malaria coartem respectively. Following treatment period, blood samples were obtained and assayed for fasting blood sugar, packed cell volume (PCV) and total white blood cell count (TWBCC). From the result, P. falciparum exposed rats showed lowered PCV values than control with observed improvements in coartem (significant at p < 0.05) and diosgenin (insignificant) treatment groups. Also, diabetic, diosgenin treated rats showed an insignificant reduction in blood sugar levels compared to control, even though this change was apparently improved compared to diabetic, untreated group. Again, TWBCC caused notable decrease in diosgenin treated, though this decrease signified a huge recovery compared to untreated rats. Corroborative studies on diosgenin with other systems is recommended.

ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA CAO CHIẾT TỪ THÂN CÂY MỚP GAI (Lasia spinosa) ĐẾN HOẠT TÍNH CỦA ENZYME GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATASE Ở GAN VÀ THẬN CỦA CHUỘT BỊ BỆNH ĐÁI THÁO ĐƯỜNG

Nghiên cứu được thực hiện để đánh giá tác động điều hòa hoạt tính enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase trong gan và thận của cao chiết thân mớp gai trên chuột bị bệnh đái tháo đường do alloxan monohydrate. Trong nghiên cứu này, bệnh đái tháo đường ở chuột đã được gây ra bằng cách tiêm alloxan monohydrate vào trong xoang bụng chuột. Khởi phát bệnh đái tháo đường đã làm tăng hàm lượng glucose huyết và glucose-6-phosphatase một cách đáng kể (p<0,05). Cao chiết từ thân mớp gai được sử dụng ở liều 100, 200 và 400 mg/kg đối với chuột đái tháo đường do alloxan monohydrate gây ra làm giảm đáng kể (p <0,05) hàm lượng glucose huyết so với nhóm đái tháo đường. Cao chiết từ thân mớp gai làm giảm hoạt tính của enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase ở gan và thận được phát hiện ở chuột đái tháo đường. Phân tích mô bệnh học của gan và thận cho thấy sự phục hồi khi sử dụng cao chiết thân mớp gai điều trị cho các nhóm chuột đái tháo đường. Cao chiết từ thân mớp gai ở liều lượng cụ thể có tác dụng chống bệnh đái tháo đường thông qua việc điều chỉnh hoạt động của enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase giúp bảo vệ gan và thận. Do đó, cao chiết thực vật này có lợi trong việc điều trị bệnh đái tháo đường.