Abstract
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) is a climbing perennial herb, growing throughout India and it is widely used in the traditional treatment of diabetes. The aim of present study was to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of the mature unripe of Coccinia grandis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with special reference to carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes. The optimum dose of Coccinia grandis extract (GCE) was determined by oral glucose tolerance test. The effects of CGE were compared with glibenclamide. Oral administration of Coccinia grandis extract at a concentration of 250 mg/kg body weight once daily to diabetic rats for the period of 30 days resulted in significant reduction in the levels of plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin. Administration of CGE showed a significant increase in the levels of glycolytic enzymes and glycogen content and decrease in the levels of gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver of diabetic treated rats. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of the extract was comparable with glibenclamide, a known hypoglycemic drug. Present findings provide experimental evidence that the fruits of C. grandis have potential antidiabetic activity which might be used as a functional food and safe remedy for the treatment of diabetes and associated complications.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease affecting millions of individuals worldwide, characterized by absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secretion and/or insulin action associated with chronic hyperglycemia and disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism (Wild et al, 2004; Araki et al, 2017)
Novel concepts in the management of diabetes have aroused a curiosity among researchers throughout the world
Reagents and solvents used were of good quality and analytical grade and obtained from SISCO Research Laboratories (SRL) and SD fine chemicals, Mumbai, India
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease affecting millions of individuals worldwide, characterized by absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secretion and/or insulin action associated with chronic hyperglycemia and disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism (Wild et al, 2004; Araki et al, 2017). According to WHO report 2016, the total burden of deaths from high blood glucose in 2012 has been estimated to amount to 3.7 million This number includes 1.5 million diabetes deaths, and an additional 2.2 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and tuberculosis related to higher-than-optimal blood glucose. Novel concepts in the management of diabetes have aroused a curiosity among researchers throughout the world. In countries such as India and China, use of herbal medicines is a very common practice from ancient time, and herbal medicines are considered to be much safer and less expensive therapeutic strategies for the treatment of various diseases. Role of herbs in the management and control of diabetes has emerged fast over the years with the discovery of hypoglycemic effect of Mormodica charantia (Bitter Melon) (Welihinda et al, 1986; Ali et al, 1993)
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