Abstract
Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr (family Compositae) is cultivated in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, for medicinal purposes. This study evaluated the in vivo hypoglycemic properties of the water extract of G. procumbens following 14 days of treatment and in vitro in RIN-5F cells. Glucose absorption from the intestines and its glucose uptake in abdominal skeletal muscle were assessed. The antidiabetic effect of water extract of G. procumbens leaves was investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed in diabetic rats treated with G. procumbens water extract for 14 days. In the IPGTT, blood was collected for insulin and blood glucose measurement. After the IPGTT, the pancreases were collected for immunohistochemical study of β-cells of the islets of Langerhans. The possible antidiabetic mechanisms of G. procumbens were assessed through in vitro RIN-5F cell study, intestinal glucose absorption and glucose uptake by muscle. The results showed that G. procumbens significantly decreased blood glucose levels after 14 days of treatment and improved outcome of the IPGTT. However, G. procumbens did not show a significant effect on insulin level either in the in vivo test or the in vitro RIN-5F cell culture study. G. procumbens also showed minimal effects on β-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. However, G. procumbens only significantly increased glucose uptake by muscle tissues. From the findings we can conclude that G. procumbens water extract exerted its hypoglycemic effect by promoting glucose uptake by muscles.
Highlights
There is a variety of glucose-lowering agents available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with differing mechanisms of action, side effects, including weight gain and the risk of hypoglycemia, have been the main obstacles hindering achievement of glycemic targets
When streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with saline, metformin or G. procumbens water extract for 14 days, the percentage of insulin-positive cells increased significantly to 8.4%, 20.9% and 7.0%, respectively, when compared with 72 h after streptozotocin injection (2.9%). These results indicate that G. procumbens water extract did not improve the viability of β-cells because there was no significant difference between diabetic rats treated with G. procumbens water extract and those treated with saline
This study demonstrated that water extract of G. procumbens leaves possesses hypoglycemic activity
Summary
There is a variety of glucose-lowering agents available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with differing mechanisms of action, side effects, including weight gain and the risk of hypoglycemia, have been the main obstacles hindering achievement of glycemic targets. This treatment gap is highlighted by the recent controversy surrounding the outcome of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study, in which subjects who received intensive glucose control had increased weight gain, increased risk of hypoglycemia and increased risk of mortality during the study [1]. Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr (family Compositae), known locally as “Sambung Nyawa”, is cultivated in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, for medicinal purposes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
