The role of select indigenous Phytotherapeutic agents in ameliorating the complications in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common metabolic disorder. With increased prevalence year by year, DM has been treated with newer and more effective drugs including varieties of newlinephytomedicines. Two such plants are Gymnema sylvestre (G.sylvestre) and Salacia oblonga newline(S.oblonga). G.sylvestre belongs to family Ascepiadaceae, is a woody climber growing in newlinesouthern and Central India. It is called Madhunashini in Kannada. It is known to have newlinehypoglycemic activity and the active principle, gymnemic acid is found to be responsible for this. S.oblonga belongs to the family Celestraceae, is a climber grown in South Indian forests. This plant is also known to have anti hyperglycemic activity. Two alpha glucosidase inhibitors, salacinol and kotalanol were identified in the root of this plant, where as compound Kotalagenin- newline16-acetate is found to have aldose reductase inhibitory potential. However, their effect in controlling hyperglycemia on long term and effect on vital organs like liver and kidney on prolonged usage have not been studied. Based on this fact, this study was conducted with objectives: 1) To study the effects of two plant extracts, G.sylvestre and S.oblonga on chronic complications of DM (cataractogenesis, angiopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy) in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic animal models .2) To elucidate the possible mechanism of action of these plant extracts by insulin assay.3) To study the effect of these plant extracts on normoglycemia, normal liver and kidney. The present study has been conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. Wistar rats of either sex (100±10g) were chosen for the study. DM was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (50mg/kg body weight).Random blood glucose (RBG) was measured after 8 days and those rats that showed the levels of 350mg/dl or more were included in the study.