Antihyperglycemic Effects of Medicinal Plants in Type II Diabetes and their Effects on Key Metabolic Enzymes Involved in Carbohydrate Metabolism and Its Complication

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is still not completely curable by currently available anti diabetic drugs. Insulin therapy is the only satisfactory approach in diabetes, even though it has several drawbacks such as insulin resistance, anorexia, brain atrophy and fatty liver in chronic treatment. Treatment of type II diabetes patients with sulfonylureas and biguanides is always associated with side effects and so herbal drugs are gaining popularity in the treatment of diabetes. The major merits of herbal medicines seem to be their efficacy, low incidence of side effects and low cost. In the present study entitled Antihyperglycemic effects of medicinal plants in Type II Diabetes and their effects on key metabolic enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and its complication two climbers namely Ipomoea pes-tigridis Linn and Thunbergia fragrans Roxb were selected for the study. The leaves of the climbers were collected, shade dried, pulverized and extracted sequentially by hot continuous percolation method using Soxhlet apparatus using solvents of increasing polarity like petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, and a mixture of ethanol (70%) and distilled water (30%) The extractive values of hydroalcoholic extract was higher than the extractive values of other solvents in respect of both the plants and further activities were carried on the hydroalcoholic newlineextract of Ipomoea pes-tigridis Linn and Thunbergia fragrans Roxb. The leaves of Ipomoea pes-tigridis Linn and Thunbergia fragrans Roxb have shown promising anti diabetic potential which was seen in other species of Ipomoea and Thunbergia. Therefore further research needs to be extended to isolate the other phyto-principles from these plants. The type(s) of effects exerted by the two plants component(s) involved in their activity have to be further studied at molecular (or) genetic levels. Newer palatable formulations may be prepared and can be included as adjuvant therapy to treat diabetes. Clinical research studies needs to be extended in healthy and diabetic individuals. newline