Effective Control of Postprandial Glucose Level through Inhibition of Intestinal Alpha Glucosidase byCymbopogon martinii(Roxb.)

Varsha Ghadyale,Akalpita Arvindekar,Shrihari Takalikar,Vivek Haldavnekar

doi:10.1155/2012/372909

Abstract

Inhibition of intestinal alpha glucosidase plays a major role in preventing rise in postprandial glucose level in diabetics. Cymbopogon martinii (CM) (family Poaceae) is used in traditional Indian medicine in treatment of diabetes mellitus. The alpha glucosidase inhibitory action of the plant is studied. The active component was separated using hot water extraction of the whole plant powder, differential solvent extraction, and silica gel column chromatography. The 30 : 70 toluene : ethyl acetate fraction showed optimum activity. The silica gel chromatography fraction demonstrated 98, 98, and 68% inhibition for starch, maltose, and sucrose, respectively, at 5 mg/kg body weight of rats. Intestinal absorption studies using noneverted intestinal sacs, as well as in vivo studies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using oral glucose tolerance with maltose and sucrose load, revealed better inhibition of alpha glucosidase as compared to acarbose. Kinetic studies using Lineweaver Burk plot showed mixed to noncompetitive type of inhibition by CM. In vivo studies with maltose load of 2 mg and 3 mg/gm body weight showed a noncompetitive pattern of inhibition at 5 mg/kg body weight of CM as against 60 mg/kg body weight of acarbose. Thus CM is more effective alpha glucosidase inhibitor and at lower concentration than acarbose.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder of glucose metabolism that eventually leads to micro- and macrovascular changes causing secondary complications that are difficult to manage [1]
Secretagogues, and sensitizers constitutes the predominant line of therapy, use of inhibitors of intestinal absorption of sugar is vital as they do not interfere with the sugar metabolism and help control hyperglycemia in a noninvasive manner
The use of alpha glucosidase inhibitor treatment in control of rise in the postprandial glucose level is desirable as it constitutes a noninvasive mechanism for controlling hyperglycemia

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder of glucose metabolism that eventually leads to micro- and macrovascular changes causing secondary complications that are difficult to manage [1]. The control of hyperglycemia is of prime importance to halt the progression of the disease. Secretagogues, and sensitizers constitutes the predominant line of therapy, use of inhibitors of intestinal absorption of sugar is vital as they do not interfere with the sugar metabolism and help control hyperglycemia in a noninvasive manner. Acarbose, is shown to control postprandial hyperglycemic shoot up [3] and is safe and well tolerated [4]. The plant is used traditionally in treatment of diabetes. In the present study Cymbopogon martinii (CM) belonging to the poaceae (Gramineae) family has been evaluated for its antidiabetic action through inhibition of alpha glucosidase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and by evaluation of intestinal transport of sucrose and maltose

Materials and Methods

Intestinal Absorption Studies

Results

Kinetic Studies

Discussion