Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of the Leaf Latex of Aloe pulcherrima Gilbert and Sebsebe (Aloaceae).

Gedefaw Getnet Amare,Birhanu Geta Meharie,Yaschilal Muche Belayneh

doi:10.1155/2020/8899743

Abstract

The leaf latex of Aloe pulcherrima has been used as remedy for diabetes mellitus. This was carried out to determine in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activities of the leaf latex of Aloe pulcherrima. Methods. Sucrase and maltase inhibitory activity of the leaf latex of A. pulcherrima was determined in glucose oxidase assay, and α-amylase inhibitory activity was determined in dinitrosalicylic acid assay. Normoglycemic, glucose-loaded, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were treated orally to determine blood glucose lowering activity of the latex. Effect of the latex on serum lipid level and body weight was measured in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Additionally, DPPH assay was used to determine free radical scavenging capacity of the latex. Results. Antioxidant activity of the latex was concentration dependent; the strongest inhibition was measured at 800 μg/ml (80.57%). The leaf latex of A. pulcherrima inhibited sucrase (IC50 = 2.92 μg/ml), maltase (IC50 = 11.81 μg/ml) and α-amylase (IC50 = 14.92 μg/ml) enzymes. All doses of the leaf latex induced hypoglycemic effect after 4 h in normal mice, and low dose of the latex did not show significant effect after 6 h. Glucose reduction of the leaf latex of A. pulcherrima was significant (p < 0.05) in oral glucose-loaded mice compared to the vehicle control. Blood glucose level of diabetic mice was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced on week one and weak two in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. Glucose reduction increased with increasing the doses of the leaf latex of A. pulcherrima on week one (p < 0.05 (200 mg/kg), p < 0.01 (400 mg/kg), and p < 0.001 (600 mg/kg)). Administration of the leaf latex of A. pulcherrima for two weeks significantly (p < 0.05) improved diabetic dyslipidemia and body weight of diabetic mice. Conclusion. The study confirmed that the leaf latex of the plant showed a significant antidiabetic activity justifying the traditional uses of the plant.

Highlights

Herbal therapies are proven safe and effective for healing diseases and have been the potential source for the development of new drugs [1, 2]
Preparation of the Leaf Latex of Aloe pulcherrima. e leaf of Aloe pulcherrima Gilbert and Sebsebe was collected from Fiche in December, 2019. e plant was identified by Professor Sebsebe Demisew, and the specimen was deposited in the National Herbarium of Addis Ababa University (AAU) with the voucher number of SD009/19
E leaf of Aloe pulcherrima was cut transversely close to the stem, and the leaf was inclined towards the collecting plate to obtain yellowish exudate. e latex was dried under shade at room temperature with optimal ventilation. e dried latex was crushed into powder by mortar and pestle and stored in vial until used for the experiment

Summary

Introduction

Herbal therapies are proven safe and effective for healing diseases and have been the potential source for the development of new drugs [1, 2]. A majority of people in the world rely on herbal therapy [1, 3]. More than 800 plants have been used as remedies for diabetes healing, and the most successful story in drug discovery is isolation of guanidines (analogue of metformin) from Galega officinalis [2, 6]. A variety of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenols, triterpenoids, and alkaloids have shown prominent antidiabetic activity [2, 7, 8]. E leaf of Capparis spinosa L. and Juglans regia L. contained phenols and flavonoids (rutin) that showed prominent antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activity [9, 10]. Rutin showed strong free radical scavenging and cholinesterase inhibitory activity and reverse kidney and liver injuries [10, 11]

Methods

Results

Conclusion