Diabetes In Traditional Medicine Research Articles

Aporphine alkaloids identified from Xylopia aethiopica and their potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities

Xylopia aethiopica has been widely utilized as food condiments in West African countries, as well as traditional medicine for diabetes, but the responsible components remain unknown. In this work, the probable active components in the contributing fraction were screened using bio-affinity ultrafiltration strategy targeting α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Then, 11 alkaloids were identified, 9 of which were aporphines, including a new one. Further enzyme inhibitory validation of these compounds discovered that compounds 1, 2, 6 and 11 showed better α-glucosidase inhibition activity than positive control, among which compounds 1, 2 and 6 simultaneously possessed potent inhibition against pancreatic lipase. The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic capacities of these screened compounds were verified by in vitro glucose consumption and lipid accumulation HepG2 cell models. This work provided solid evidences for the anti-diabetic benefit of X. aethiopica, and several aporphine alkaloids could be the responsible compounds for its promising hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities.

Hypoglycemic Activity of Hydro-Acetonic and HydroMethanolic Leaf and Bark Extracts of Bauhinia rufescens Lam in Mice

The purpose of this study was to determine the hypoglycaemic effects of leaf and bark extracts of Bauhinia rufescens Lam, used in traditional medicine for diabetes in Senegal. Phytochemical screening of hydromethanolic and hydro-acetonic extracts obtained from leaves and barks was carried out according to standard analytical methods. Experiments were carried out on normoglycemic and diabetic mice. These were obtained after the injection of a single dose of glucose (4 g/kg of body weight). The results showed that polyphenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids were the main phytochemical constituents of the extracts. Then the oral administration of the different extracts of Bauhinia rufescens Lam at doses of 500, 700, and 1000 mg/kg of body weight led to a significant reduction in blood sugar (p < 0.05), similar to the antidiabetic action of glibenclamide (10 mg/kg of body weight). Whatever the organ and the extraction solvent, the doses of 500 and 700 mg/kg of body weight induced dose-dependent hypoglycemia, just like glibenclamide. These results show that the metabolites revealed in the extracts could be responsible for their hypoglycemic effects. Thus, supported by a complete chemical study with a view to isolating the active substances responsible for the antidiabetic effect is possible. It will be allowed to formulate from a phytomedicine with potential for diabetes which makes possible their uses by populations for treatment of diabetes.

Phenolic Content, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antihyperglycemic, and α-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Aqueous Extract of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl

Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl essential oil is becoming more popular as a cognitive enhancer and treatment for memory loss. It is high in natural antioxidants and has spasmolytic, antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its aqueous extract has hypoglycemic activity and is used to treat diabetic hyperglycemia, but few studies have focused on it. The objective of this work is to evaluate the various biological and pharmacological powers of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl leaf aqueous extract. Quality control of the plant material was first carried out. Followed by a phytochemical study on the aqueous extract of S. lavandulifolia leaves, namely phytochemical screening and determination of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents. Then, the biological activities were undertaken, in particular the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant activity and trapping of the DPPH° radical) and the antimicrobial activity. The chemical composition of this extract was also determined by HPLC-MS-ESI. Finally, the inhibitory effect of the α-amylase enzyme as well as the antihyperglycaemic effect was evaluated in vivo in normal rats overloaded with starch or D-glucose. The aqueous extract obtained by use of the decoction of leaves of S. lavandulifolia contains 246.51 ± 1.69 mg EQ of gallic acid/g DE, 23.80 ± 0.12 mg EQ quercetin/g DE, and 2.46 ± 0.08 mg EQ catechin /g DE. Its total antioxidant capacity is around 527.03 ± 5.95 mg EQ of ascorbic acid/g DE. At a concentration of 5.81 ± 0.23 µg/mL, our extract was able to inhibit 50% of DPPH° radicals. Moreover, it showed bactericidal effect against Proteus mirabilis, fungicidal against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and fungistatic against Candida krusei. A marked antihyperglycemic activity (AUC = 54.84 ± 4.88 g/L/h), as well as a significant inhibitory effect of α-amylase in vitro (IC50 = 0.99 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and in vivo (AUC = 51.94 ± 1.29 g/L/h), is recorded in our extract. Furthermore, its chemical composition reveals the presence of 37.03% rosmarinic acid, 7.84% quercetin rhamnose, 5.57% diosmetin-rutinoside, 5.51% catechin dimer, and 4.57% gallocatechin as major compounds. The antihyperglycemic and α-amylase inhibitory activities, associated with the antioxidant properties of S. lavandulifolia, justify its use in the treatment of diabetes in traditional medicine and highlight its potential introduction into antidiabetic drugs.

Assessment of the effects of an aqueous extract of the leaves, flowers, and seeds of Crotalaria retusa L (Fabaceae) on the glycemia in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of Crotalaria retusa L (Fabaceae) (EACr) on glycemia in Wistar rats, to contribute to the valorization of plants used in traditional medicine for the improvement of people’s health. A phytochemical screening and pharmacological study of the aqueous extract of Crotalaria retusa L (Fabaceae) on glycemia in rats, were carried out. The administration of the substances in animals was made orally. The qualitative phytochemical study carried out with the aqueous extract of the leaves, the flowers, and the pods of Crotalaria retusa L (Fabaceae) made to highlight the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, catechic, and gallic tannins, quinonic compounds, alkaloids, sterols, and polyterpenes. This extract showed hypoglycemic activity in the normoglycemic animals, treated with the dose of 1000 mg/kg BW with a percentage of reduction of the glycemia of 21.04%. After an overload of glucose, EACr (1000 mg/kg BW) and the glibenclamide (10-2g/kg BW) showed better antihyperglycemic activity in the rats post-treated, with respective percentages of reduction of 41.90 and 50.39%. EACr has hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic properties which would be probably related to the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids. These compounds, generally recognized for their hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects, confer to this extract similar properties to those of certain insulin-secretors. These results support the use of this plant for the treatment of diabetes in traditional medicine and bring a scientific base.

Antidiabetic and Toxicological Effects of the Tea Infusion of Summer Collection from Annona cherimola Miller Leaves

Annona cherimola Miller (Ac) is a plant used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. In this work, the tea infusion extracts obtained from 1.5 g of leaf powder from Ac collected in May (AcMa), June (AcJun), July (AcJul), and August (AcAu) were evaluated on streptozocin-induced diabetic (STID) mice and for subchronic toxicity in STID and non-diabetic (ND) mice. In addition, extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Results showed that the tea infusion extract of the sample collected in August (AcAu) exhibited the most significant antihyperglycemic activity during all acute assays. The analysis of the extracts (AcMa, AcJu, AcJul, and AcAu) by HPLC-DAD revealed that flavonoid glycosides, rutin, narcissin, and nicotiflorin were the major components. In addition, the sample AcAu contained the best concentration of flavonoids. In the case of subchronic oral toxicity, the AcAu sample did not cause mortality in STID mice, and histopathological analysis revealed significant improvement in the changes associated with diabetes in the liver and kidneys. These findings suggest that the Ac leaves collected in August may be a source of flavonoids such as rutin, with antidiabetic potential. In addition, these findings support the use of Ac to treat diabetes in traditional medicine.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. polyphenolic-rich extract promotes muscle glucose uptake and inhibits intestinal glucose absorption with concomitant amelioration of Fe2+ -induced hepatic oxidative injury.

In this current study, the antidiabetic effectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa and its protective function against Fe2+ -induced oxidative hepatic injury were elucidated using in vitro, in silico, and ex vivo studies. The oxidative damage was induced in hepatic tissue by incubation with 0.1 mMolar ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and then treated with different concentrations of crude extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous) of H. sabdariffa flowers for 30 min at 37°C. When compared to ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts, the ethanolic extract displayed the most potent scavenging activity in ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and nitric oxide (NO) assays, with IC50 values of 2.8μl/ml, 3.3μl/ml, and 9.2μl/ml, respectively. The extracts significantly suppressed α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities (p < .05), with the ethanolic extract demonstrating the highest activity. H. sabdariffa significantly (p < .05) raised reduced glutathione (GSH) levels while simultaneously decreasing malondihaldehyde (MDA) and NO levels and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity in Fe2+ induced oxidative hepatic injury. The extract of the plant inhibited intestinal glucose absorption and increased muscular glucose uptake. The extract revealed the presence of several phenolic compounds when submitted to gas chromatography-mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) screening, which was docked with α-glucosidase and α- amylase. The molecular docking displayed the compound 4-(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)butyl acrylate strongly interacted with α-glucosidase and α-amylase and had the lowest free binding energy compared to other compounds and acarbose. These results suggest that H. sabdariffa has promising antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In recent years, there has been increased concern about the side effects of synthetic anti-diabetic drugs, as well as their expensive cost, especially in impoverished nations. This has instigated a radical shift towards the use of traditional plants, which are rich in phytochemicals many years ago. Among these plants, H. sabdariffa has been used to treat diabetes in traditional medicine. In this present study, H. sabdariffa extracts demonstrated the ability to inhibit carbohydrate digesting enzymes, facilitate muscle glucose uptake and attenuate oxidative stress in oxidative hepatic injury. Hence, demonstrating H. sabdariffa's potential to protect against oxidative damage and the complications associated with diabetes. Consumption of Hibiscus tea or juice may be a potential source for developing an anti-diabetic drug.

First report of zucchini yellow mosaic virus infecting bitter melon (Momordica charantia) in South Korea.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L., family Cucurbitaceae) is used in traditional medicine for diabetes, cancer, and inflammation-associated diseases due to bioactive compounds in Asia and tropical Africa (Bortolotti et al. 2019). In July 2021, approximately 10% of bitter melon plants in the field showed symptoms such as mosaic, yellowing, and leaf deformation on the leaves, in Samchcuk, South Korea. Cucumber and zucchini plants growing in the same field exhibited symptoms like those of bitter melon plants (Ali et al. 2012). To investigate the causative virus, leaf dip preparations from three symptomatic bitter melon leaf samples with symptoms were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Potyvirus-like particles (approximately 680-730 nm in length and 11-13 nm in diameter) were observed in all samples. To further identify the causal viral pathogens, leaf extracts from five symptomatic bitter melon plants were tested by DAS-ELISA using specific antibodies (Agdia, Elkhart, IN, USA) against cucumber mosaic virus, zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), watermelon mosaic virus, and papaya ring spot virus. Positive controls from commercial kits and negative controls from healthy bitter melon plants were included in ELISA assay. The serological assay revealed that all five symptomatic samples positively reacted with the antiserum against ZYMV, but not for other viruses. Total RNA extracted from the five ELISA-positive samples and two healthy bitter melon plants (as negative controls), using Clear-S Total RNA extraction kit (InVirusTech Co., Gwangju, Korea), was tested by RT-PCR with ZYMV-specific primers as previously described (Cho et al. 2011). All amplicons of the expected size (~822 bp) were individually cloned into the pGEM-T Easy Vector (Promega, Madison, WI), and sequenced in both orientations. Thereafter, all the sequenced clones shared 100% nucleotide identity. The sequence of ZYMV-MC1 isolated from bitter melon was deposited in the GenBank (accession no. LC652434). Pairwise comparison of the nucleotide sequence with that of ZYMV isolates in the GenBank revealed 99% sequence identity with ZYMV-chk (MG020559) from Korea, 98% with ZYMV-14-HY-SCS (KU743321) from China, 97% with ZYMV-Y21 (MW345249) from Turkey, 96% with ZYMV-AUIKTPK (KR261951) from Pakstan. Leaf saps from the ZYMV-positive bitter melon samples, prepared in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), were mechanically inoculated in five young, healthy bitter melon plants to fulfil Koch's postulates. ZYMV-MC1 isolate caused mosaic and leaf deformation on bitter melon plants 10 days post-inoculation. The presence of ZYMV in the symptomatic leaves was confirmed by RT-PCR using the mentioned above primers mentioned above followed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons. Several cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) were observed in the bitter melon field, which indicated that they might transmit the virus from ZYMV-infected cucumber or zucchini plants. ZYMV is one of the economically important viruses of cucurbits worldwide and has been recently reported from various crops as natural hosts, including Chayote (Yoon et al. 2018) and balloon flowers (Kim et al. 2021). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ZYMV naturally infecting bitter melon in South Korea. Further large -scale surveys are required to determine its incidence, yield losses, and management in bitter melon in Korea.

Investigating the global research landscape, barriers, and facilitators of scientific productivity in ethnomedicinal research in diabetes mellitus

Currently, the number of ethnomedicinal studies in diabetes has increased, resulting in more medical data and treatment strategies using traditional medicine for diabetes. Bibliometric analysis can be applied to understand better the research landscape of ethnomedicinal studies related to diabetes. This study described the global research landscape, research hotspots, and future direction of ethnomedicinal studies in diabetes. The Scopus database retrieved articles related to ethnomedicinal studies in diabetes. The search was conducted from inception to 2021. Bibliometric information was extracted from the database, and network visualization was performed using VOSviewer software. This study showed a continuous increase in ethnomedicinal research related to diabetes. China, India, and Bangladesh produced the most significant number of papers in this field. The top journals that published ethnomedicinal studies related to diabetes include the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Lastly, gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, research funding, researchers and physicians per million people, and collaborations with other countries were correlated to the scientific productivity in ethnomedicinal research in diabetes. Leaders and authorities in different countries, especially those that still heavily rely on traditional medicine, consider increasing their financial support to physicians and researchers and foster more collaborations with other countries to facilitate ethnomedicinal studies related to diabetes. This endeavor may help find herbal medicines that may help control and manage diabetes, especially in low-resource settings. • We obtained 1004 publications for ethnomedicinal research on diabetes. • China, India, and Bangladesh are the most productive countries in this field. • Journal of Ethnopharmacology is the most productive journal in this field. • International collaboration promotes research productivity in this field. • Funding, researchers, and physicians promote research productivity in this field.

Antimutagenic, Cytoprotective and Antioxidant Properties of Ficus deltoidea Aqueous Extract In Vitro.

Ficus deltoidea var. deltoidea is used as traditional medicine for diabetes, inflammation, and nociception. However, the antimutagenic potential and cytoprotective effects of this plant remain unknown. In this study, the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of F. deltoidea aqueous extract (FDD) on both Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 strains were assessed using Salmonella mutagenicity assay (Ames test). Then, the cytoprotective potential of FDD on menadione-induced oxidative stress was determined in a V79 mouse lung fibroblast cell line. The ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was conducted to evaluate FDD antioxidant capacity. Results showed that FDD (up to 50 mg/mL) did not exhibit a mutagenic effect on either TA 98 or TA 100 strains. Notably, FDD decreased the revertant colony count induced by 2-aminoanthracene in both strains in the presence of metabolic activation (p < 0.05). Additionally, pretreatment of FDD (50 and 100 µg/mL) demonstrated remarkable protection against menadione-induced oxidative stress in V79 cells significantly by decreasing superoxide anion level (p < 0.05). FDD at all concentrations tested (12.5–100 µg/mL) exhibited antioxidant power, suggesting the cytoprotective effect of FDD could be partly attributed to its antioxidant properties. This report highlights that F. deltoidea may provide a chemopreventive effect on mutagenic and oxidative stress inducers.

Population structure of woody plant in malaka (Phyllanthus emblicata) habitat, Padang bolak, North Sumatra

Malaka is a wild plant that generally grows in subtropical and tropical regions including India, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia. In Indonesia, this plant found disjunct in Java, Ternate and North Sumatra. Malacca seed is known as traditional medicine for diabetes, cancer, liver, ulcers and anemia. People in South Tapanuli also used the leaf as traditional food ingredients. Information regarding to distribution and habitat of Malacca in North Sumatra is still quite limited. Therefore our research aims to determine the population structure and malacca association in Padang Bolak Julu. The population structure and plant species associations were conducted through vegetation analysis by purposive sampling and the association is calculated using the Ochiai, Dice, and Jackard index values. The results showed that the malaka IVI at the level of seedlings, saplings, poles and trees were 150.35, 131.83, 112.04 and 102.23, respectively. Malaka plants are high association patterns and positively associated with P. obovatum in the location.

Inhibition of a-amylase and a-glucosidase activities in vitro by extracts of selected medicinal plants

Abstract. Pant DR, Aryal B, Pun D, Sharma S, Joshi GP. 2021. Inhibition of a-amylase and a-glucosidase activities in vitro by extracts of selected medicinal plants. Biodiversitas 22: 1187-1193. Several medicinal plants are being used traditionally in the treatment/management of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The present work focuses on experimental verification of antidiabetic potential of different medicinal plants that have been reported to be used traditionally to manage DM. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of 12 species of plants were studied for their inhibitory effect on the activities of a-amylase and a-glucosidase, two key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. The extracts of all the species showed very high degree (nearly 90% or above) of inhibition of α-amylase irrespective of the extraction solvent. The aqueous extracts of Asterella wallichiana, however, showed only 63.60% inhibition of a-amylase. Except for Asterella wallichiana, the percentage inhibition of a-amylase in aqueous and methanolic solution in all the species tested were almost similar. The percentage inhibition of a-glucosidase was lower than that of a-amylase for all the species in both types of extraction medium. The highest percentage inhibition of a-glucosidase (81.13±1.36 %) was found in methanolic extracts of Rhuschinensis. The inhibition of a-glucosidase was much higher in methanolic extracts than in aqueous extracts for all the species tested. High degree of inhibition of a-amylase activity in vitro by the extracts of all the species tested provides scientific basis for using these plants in the management/treatment of diabetes in traditional medicine.

Hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and hypolipidemic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Eryngium billardieri root on nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced type II diabetic rats.

Background and purpose:Erynginum billardieri has been used to control diabetes in traditional medicine. This research was performed to study the antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and hypolipidemic effects of E. billardieri root extract (EBRE) on streptozotocin/nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic male rats.Experimental approach:Type two diabetic animals were treated by three different doses of EBRE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), orally administered for 4 weeks. Ultimately, after anesthesia, the glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, hepatic enzyme levels in the blood and liver, and pancreas tissues of the animals were analyzed.Findings/Results:Induction of diabetes caused a diminution in insulin level, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and significantly enhanced the level of other lipid profiles, glucose, and liver enzymes (P < 0.05). Administration of the EBRE to diabetic-male rats significantly reduced glucose level, lipid profiles, and liver enzymes, and increased the level of HDL to near normal.Conclusion and implications:The results of the present study showed that E. billardieri had a positive effect on diminishing the lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and controlling diabetes. The most effective dose was found to be 100 mg/kg.

Clinacanthus nutans Leaves Extract Reverts Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes Rats by Improving Protein Expression of eNOS.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with endothelial dysfunction; it causes progressive vascular damage resulting from an impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. In the diabetes state, presence of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance predisposes to endothelial dysfunction. Clinacanthus nutans, widely used as a traditional medicine for diabetes is reported to have hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the possibility of C. nutans affecting the vascular endothelial function in diabetes remains unclear. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of C. nutans methanolic leaves extract (CNME) on endothelial function in a type 2 diabetes (T2DM) rat model. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n = 12 per group): nondiabetic control, nondiabetic treated with four weeks of CNME (500 mg/kg/daily), untreated diabetic rats, diabetic treated with metformin (300 mg/kg/daily), and diabetic treated with CNME (500 mg/kg/daily). T2DM was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) to rats fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent relaxations and contractions of the thoracic aorta were determined using the organ bath. Aortic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was determined using Western blotting. Endothelial-dependent relaxation was reduced in diabetic rats. Both diabetic groups treated with CNME or metformin significantly improved the impairment in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation; this was associated with increased expression of aortic eNOS protein. CNME- and metformin-treated groups also reduced aortic endothelium-dependent and aortic endothelium-independent contractions in diabetics. Both of these diabetic-treated groups also reduced blood glucose levels and increased body weight compared to the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, C. nutans improves endothelial-dependent vasodilatation and reduces endothelial-dependent contraction, thus ameliorating endothelial dysfunction in diabetic rats. This may occur due to its effect on increasing eNOS protein expression.

Knowledge and Utilization of Traditional Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Residents of Pakuri (St. Cuthbert’s Mission) in Guyana

Aim: This study was designed to determine the knowledge and utilization of traditional medicine for Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) among residents of Pakuri (St. Cuthbert’s Mission) in Guyana. Since treatment for T2DM is expensive with multiple side effects, it has become necessary to explore the use of plant-base medicine.&#x0D; Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive cross sectional design. Systematic random sampling procedures were done to identify study population. Prior informed consent from the village council, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and individual participants were sought before the commencement of the study. The study was conducted over a four- week period.&#x0D; Results: Three hundred and eighteen (318) participants were recruited for the study. The mean (±SD) knowledge score was 85.1 ± 16.8 with 50.9% of the study participants having good knowledge in traditional medicine for diabetes. T2DM affected 40.3% of the study participants; of this population and more than half of the participants used traditional medicine to control their symptoms. Significant association was seen with age, gender, education and marital status among participants using traditional medicine for diabetes.&#x0D; Conclusion: It is concluded that the use of traditional medicine is becoming increasingly popular and as such, efforts need to be made to revive and coordinate the use of medicinal plants/herbs by the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affair including the native flora of the local ecosystems. In addition, conclusive evidence on the contribution of the traditional medicine on the final outcome of management of T2DM could not be reach since the study was not controlled.

Ethnomedicinal Investigation of Medicinal Plants of Chakrata Region (Uttarakhand) Used in the Traditional Medicine for Diabetes by Jaunsari Tribe

The Himalayan region is the treasure house of natural wealth, particularly of medicinal and aromatic plants. These plants are used by the Indian traditional healers for the past many centuries to treat various ailments such as skin disorders, asthma, diabetes, snake bite, fever, pain, eye diseases, diarrhoea, indigestion, jaundice, burn, wound, liver disorder, CNS disorders and urinary tract infection. The indigenous traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and therapies of various local communities has been lost due to changes in traditional culture and the introduction of modern technologies. Therefore, it is essential to explore the traditional knowledge of the indigenous medicinal plants mainly in such areas where there is a severe threat to natural vegetation owing to human inhabitation. The present study aimed to explore the medicinal plants of Chakrata region (Jaunsar–Bawar Hills), Uttarakhand, India used in the folk medicine for the management of diabetes by Jaunsari Tribe. In a comprehensive field survey, the information about the medicinal plants have been mainly collected from the traditional healers and other elderly people belong to the tribal community. All the information about the medicinal plants of the study area was documented in a field book. Various tools have been used to collect the samples for identification purpose and the authentication of the plants was done with the help of taxonomists. The literature on these plants was also searched from online (PubMed and Scopus) as well as from some textbooks and Ayurvedic classical texts. The present survey-based work described a total of 54 plants belonging to 47 genera and 30 families used in the traditional medicine for the management of diabetes in Chakrata region. The information gathered from the local community revealed that the plants are effective in diabetes and one can use most of them without consulting a practitioner or traditional healer. The literature revealed that most of the surveyed plants are already used in the preparation of various antidiabetic formulations such as Chandraprabha vati, Nishamalaki chunra, Amritamehari churna and Nisakathakadi kashayam along with various patent drugs which are frequently prescribed by the Ayurvedic practitioners in India. The present study explored the traditional as well as scientific knowledge on the antidiabetic plants used by the tribal community. The documented information on these plants can be further used by the scientific community to develop new drugs/formulations with the help of modern techniques.

Alpha Amylase, Alpha Glucosidase Inhibition and Profiling of Volatile Compounds of Biologically Active Extracts from Momordica cymbalaria (Hook, Fenzl) Skin and Seeds

Momordica cymbalaria (Hook, Fenzl) has been used in traditional medicine for diabetes in India. This study was designed to examine, total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and in vitro anti-oxidant activity by using seven different types of solvent extracts. The biologically active extracts, ethanol extract of fruit skin (EESK) and methanol extract of seed (MESE) were evaluated for in vitro anti-diabetic activity followed by detection of bioactive metabolites by GC-MS analysis. EESK and MESE exhibited IC50 values of 185.1 μg/ml against α – amylase and 224.4 μg/ml against α – glucosidase, respectively. GC-MS profiling of skin and seed portion of the vegetable revealed the presence of 40 compounds from EESK and 29 compounds from MESE. Thus, this study reveals that EESK and MESE exhibited in vitro anti-diabetic activity and GC-MC profiling confirms the presence of anti-diabetic phytocompounds such as L-Cysteine and cis- Vaccenic acid.

Antidiabetic effects of Olea europaea L. leaves in diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. It has broad occurrence worldwide, affecting millions of people, and can cause serious complications. The olive (Olea europaea L.) has important pharmacological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic activities. Olive leaves are used in traditional medicine for diabetes and hypertension. Aim of the studyTo evaluate the effect of the ethanolic extract of olive leaves (EEOL) on the metabolism of rats with diabetes induced by a high-fat diet and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ). Materials and methodsMale Wistar rats were either given normal feed or a high-fat diet (70% standard laboratory feed, 15% sucrose, 10% lard and 5% yolk powder) for four weeks, followed by administration of STZ (35 mg/kg, via ip). Animals with fasting glucose levels above 200 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Animals were divided into 5 groups, which received ethanol (10 mL/kg), metformin (250 mg/kg), or EEOL at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg during 10 weeks by oral gavage. Blood samples were used to measure hematological and biochemical parameters, and kidneys were removed for posterior analysis. Body weight was recorded weekly. ResultsA significant decrease in body weight was observed among diabetic animals treated with ethanol and EEOL compared to the control group. Moreover, animals treated with EEOL showed an improvement in glucose levels and in levels of inflammatory and metabolic markers when compared to diabetic animals. ConclusionsThe results indicate a potential anti-diabetic activity of olive leaves, however more studies are needed to validate clinical effects.

Pengaruh Ekstrak Etanol Daun Vernonia amygdalina, Del terhadap Kadar Kreatinin Serum Mencit Putih Jantan

Daun Vernonia amygdalina yang dikenal sebagai daun Afrika Selatan digunakan sebagai obat-obatan tradisional untuk mengobati diabetes, demam, hipertensi dan asam urat. Penelitan tentang efek ekstrak etanol daun ini terhadap kadar kreatinin dalam serum mencit putih jantan telah dilakukan. Dua puluh ekor mencit putih jantan dikelompokkan ke dalam empat kelompok yaitu satu kelompok kontrol dan tiga kelompok hewan uji (A, B, C) yang diberikan ekstrak etanol dengan dosis 100 mg/kg BB, 200 mg/kgBB dan 400 mg/kgBB. Kelompok uji diberikan ekstrak secara oral selama 21 hari. Leher mencit dipotong dan darah dikumpulkan pada hari ke 7, 14 dan 21. Kadar kreatinin dalam serum darah diukur menggunakan Spektrofotometer UV-Visibel pada panjang gelombang 492 nm. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa semua dosis sampel uji memberikan perbedaan yang signifikan terhadap kadar kreatinin dalam serum darah (p&lt;0,05). Ekstrak etanol dengan dosis 400 mg/kgBB menunjukkan dosis paling efektif menurunkan kadar kreatinin dalam serum darah.

Effect of Aloe vera on glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aloe vera (Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Xanthorrhoeaceae family) has long been used in folk or traditional medicine for diabetes. Several studies have been conducted on the effect of Aloe vera on glycaemic control, but the results appear inconsistent. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of Aloe vera on glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Scopus, http://clinicaltrials.gov, Web of Science, Proquest, LILACS, HerbMed, NAPRALERT and CNKI to the end of January 2016 without language restriction. Historical search of relevant articles and personal contact with experts in the area were also undertaken. Studies were included if they were (1) randomized controlled trials of Aloe vera aimed at assessing glycaemic control in prediabetes or type 2 diabetes and (2) reporting fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ). Treatment effect was estimated with mean difference in the final value of FPG and HbA1c between the treatment and the control groups. Eight trials involving 470 patients (235 each for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes) were included. In prediabetes, Aloe vera significantly improved FPG (mean difference -0·22 mmol/L, 95% CI -0·32 mmol/L to -0·12 mmol/L, P < 0·0001), with no effect on HbA1c (mean difference -2 mmol/mol, 95% CI -5 mmol/mol to 1 mmol/mol). Aloe vera may improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, with a marginal improvement in FPG (mean differences -1·17 mmol/L, 95% CI -2·35 mmol/L to 0·00 mmol/L, P = 0·05) and a significant improvement in HbA1c (mean difference -11 mmol/mol, 95% CI -19 mmol/mol to -2 mmol/mol, P = 0·01). The current evidence suggests some potential benefit of Aloe vera in improving glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, given the limitations of the available evidence and the high heterogeneity in study results, high-quality, well-powered randomized controlled trials using standardized preparations are needed to quantify any beneficial effects of Aloe vera on glycaemic control.

The pentacyclic triterpenoid, plectranthoic acid, a novel activator of AMPK induces apoptotic death in prostate cancer cells.

Epidemiologic studies indicated that diabetics treated with metformin had a lower incidence of cancer than those taking other anti-diabetes drugs. This led to a surge in the efforts for identification of safer and more effective metformin mimetic compounds. The plant Ficus microcarpa is widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in traditional medicine in South Asia. We obtained extracts from this plant and identified a small molecule, plectranthoic acid (PA), with potent 5′AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activating properties far superior than metformin. AMPK is the central hub of metabolic regulation and a well-studied therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes and cancer. We observed that treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) cells with PA inhibited proliferation and induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest that was associated with up-regulation of cyclin kinase inhibitors p21/CIP1 and p27/KIP1. PA treatment suppressed mTOR/S6K signaling and induced apoptosis in PCa cells in an AMPK-dependent manner. Interestingly, PA-induced autophagy in PCa cells was found to be independent of AMPK activation. Combination studies of PA and metformin demonstrated that metformin had an inhibitory effect on PA-induced AMPK activation and suppressed PA-mediated apoptosis. Given the anti-proliferative role of PA in cancer and its potent anti-hyperglycemic activity, we suggest that PA should be explored further as a novel activator of AMPK for its ultimate use for the prevention of cancers and treatment of type 2 diabetes.