Abstract
In the present study, a 50% ethanolic extract of Orthosiphon stamineus was tested for its α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. In vivo assays of the extract (containing 1.02%, 3.76%, and 3.03% of 3′hydroxy-5,6,7,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, sinensetin, and eupatorin, resp.) showed that it possessed an inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase in normal rats loaded with starch and sucrose. The results showed that 1000 mg/kg of the 50% ethanolic extract of O. stamineus significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the plasma glucose levels of the experimental animals in a manner resembling the effect of acarbose. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, only the group treated with 1000 mg/kg of the extract showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower plasma glucose levels after starch loading. Hence, α-glucosidase inhibition might be one of the mechanisms by which O. stamineus extract exerts its antidiabetic effect. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the 50% ethanolic extract of O. stamineus can be considered as a potential agent for the management of diabetes mellitus.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, a condition which could either be attributed to insufficient insulin secretion or insulin resistance
One of the effective strategies for the management of blood glucose level in type 2 DM is by inhibition of α-glucosidases and α-amylase [6, 7] which reduces the digestion of carbohydrates for production of monosaccharide and, indirectly decreases blood glucose level
Using normal rats, extracttreated groups receiving 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of the 50% ethanol extract of O. stamineus did not show any significant decrease in blood glucose levels (Figure 2(a)) compared to control rats
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, a condition which could either be attributed to insufficient insulin secretion or insulin resistance. Controlling blood glucose levels of diabetics within the normal range is mainly based on the use of oral hypoglycemic/antihyperglycemic agents and insulin. These conventional treatments have undesirable side effects [1,2,3]. A sudden rise in blood glucose levels, causing hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients, would be due to starch hydrolysis by the α-amylase and α-glucosidases found in gastrointestinal tract [5]. One of the effective strategies for the management of blood glucose level in type 2 DM is by inhibition of α-glucosidases and α-amylase [6, 7] which reduces the digestion of carbohydrates for production of monosaccharide and, indirectly decreases blood glucose level.
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