Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of Aegle marmelos seed extract in normal and diabetic rats.

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Limonene: Aroma of innovation in health and disease

Rutin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, was investigated for its antioxidant potential in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Rats were rendered diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). The levels of fasting plasma glucose and insulin were estimated. Lipid peroxidative products and antioxidants were estimated in liver, kidney and brain. Histopathological studies were carried out in these tissues. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of fasting plasma glucose, lipid peroxidative products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] and lipid hydroperoxides [HP]) and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in plasma insulin, enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and glutathione reductase [GRx]) and nonenzymic antioxidants (reduced glutathione [GSH], vitamin C and E) in diabetic liver, kidney and brain were observed. Oral administration of rutin (100 mg/kg) for a period of 45 days significantly (p < 0.05) decreased fasting plasma glucose, increased insulin levels and improved the antioxidant status of diabetic rats by decreasing lipid peroxidative products and increasing enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants. Normal rats treated with rutin (100 mg/kg) showed no significant (p < 0.05) effect on any of the parameters studied. Histopathological studies of the liver, kidney and brain showed the protective role of rutin. Thus, our study clearly shows that rutin has antioxidant effect in STZ-induced experimental diabetes.

Rutin improves the antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat tissues

Ethnopharmacological knowledge is common and import among tribal populations but much of the information is empirical at best lacking scientific validation. Despite widespread use of plant resources in traditional medicines, bioassay analysis of very few plant species have been conducted to investigate their medicinal properties, and to ascertain safety and efficacy of traditional remedies. The present study analyses indigenous uses of medicinal plants of far-west Nepal and compares with earlier ayurveda studies, phytochemical assessments and pharmacological actions. A field study was carried out in Baitadi and Darchula districts of far-west Nepal. Group discussions, informal meetings, questionnaire surveys and field observations were employed for primary data collection. Voucher specimens were collected with field notes and codes and deposited at Tribhuvan University Central Herbarium (TUCH), Kathmandu. Only 50% of species surveyed shared common uses with ayurvedic medicine. This implies that these herbal remedies are part of an independent health care system in the Nepal Himalaya, which is indigenous and influenced by ayurveda. The folk uses of some of the species were contradicting to those of ayurveda and phytochemical bioassays. A detailed phytochemical study on those species would be an important line of research.

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Indigenous Use and Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Far-West Nepal

Protective effect of Corchorus olitorius leaves on sodium arsenite-induced toxicity in experimental rats.

The aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos Correa. fruits (AMFEt) was studied in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats and anti-lipid peroxidative activity was studied in hepatic and renal tissues in diabetic rats. Oral administration of AMFEt for 30 days (twice a day) prevented significantly the STZ-induced hyperglycaemia and hypoinsulinemia. The extract also produced a significant decrease in peroxidation products, viz., thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides in diabetic rats. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was found to be increased in the hepatic and renal tissues of diabetic animals treated with AMFEt. AMFEt, at a dose of 250 mg/kg, was more effective than glibenclamide and reversed all the values to near normal status. Thus, AMFEt exhibits antidiabetic and anti-oxidative activity in STZ-diabetic rats.

N Kamalakkannan

Papers

Antidiabetic and Anti-oxidant Activity of Aegle marmelos Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats