Inhibition of intestinal alpha glucosidase plays a major role in preventing rise in postprandial glucose level in diabetics. Cymbopogon martinii (CM) (family Poaceae) is used in traditional Indian medicine in treatment of diabetes mellitus. The alpha glucosidase inhibitory action of the plant is studied. The active component was separated using hot water extraction of the whole plant powder, differential solvent extraction, and silica gel column chromatography. The 30 : 70 toluene : ethyl acetate fraction showed optimum activity. The silica gel chromatography fraction demonstrated 98, 98, and 68% inhibition for starch, maltose, and sucrose, respectively, at 5 mg/kg body weight of rats. Intestinal absorption studies using noneverted intestinal sacs, as well as in vivo studies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using oral glucose tolerance with maltose and sucrose load, revealed better inhibition of alpha glucosidase as compared to acarbose. Kinetic studies using Lineweaver Burk plot showed mixed to noncompetitive type of inhibition by CM. In vivo studies with maltose load of 2 mg and 3 mg/gm body weight showed a noncompetitive pattern of inhibition at 5 mg/kg body weight of CM as against 60 mg/kg body weight of acarbose. Thus CM is more effective alpha glucosidase inhibitor and at lower concentration than acarbose.
Spices are extensively used to enhance the taste and flavor of foods and are known to possess several medicinal properties. Myristica fragrans, Parmelia perlata, Illicium verum, Trachyspermum copticum and Myristica malabarica, the commonly used spices in India were assessed for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. In the in vitro insulin secretion studies on isolated islets of Langerhans, M. fragrans, T. copticum and M. malabarica showed dose dependent insulin secretion. At 1 mg/ml, P. perlata showed significant in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC(50) value of 0.14 mg/ml followed by M. malabarica (0.64 mg/ml), I. verum (0.67 mg/ml), M. fragrans (0.85 mg/ml) and T. copticum (0.92 mg/ml). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the extracts at a concentration of 1 mg/ml was as M. malabarica (90.45%), M. fragrans (89.89%), I. verum (87.22%), P. perlata (76.70%) and T. copticum (38.14%). P. perlata showed the highest phenolic content (i.e., 118.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) followed by M. malabarica (84.13 mg gallic acid equivalents/g). M. malabarica showed the highest flavonoid content (i.e., 38.35 mg quercetin equivalents/g). Regular use of these spices may prevent postprandial rise in glucose levels through inhibition of intestinal alpha-glucosidase and may maintain blood glucose level through insulin secretagogue action.
Objective
To isolate and identify the bioactive component from Cymbopogon martinii having GLUT2 transporter inhibitory activity – towards development of a novel strategy for treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Method
Isolation of bioactive component was carried out using differential solvent extraction, HPTLC and HPLC, and identification was done by GC-MS. In-vitro studies on intestine, liver, kidney and in-vivo assessment by OGTT and long-term treatment on diabetic rats were carried out.
Key findings
Geraniol was isolated and identified as bioactive component. Intestinal glucose absorption demonstrated 60.28% inhibition of transport at 648.34 μm of geraniol. It was found to inhibit glucose release from liver on adrenaline challenge by 89.82% at 324.17 μm/ml. Kidney glycogen content doubled using 648.34 μm of geraniol as compared to control. Geraniol demonstrated 2.14 times higher renal glucose output than diabetic control. OGTT demonstrated prevention of postprandial spikes. Prolonged treatment for 60 days with 29.37 mm/kg B.W. twice a day of geraniol improved the lipid profile, HbA1C levels and renal parameters. In mRNA studies for 10 days, over expression of GLUT2 was prevented by geraniol.
Conclusions
Inhibition of GLUT2 by geraniol has the potential to reduce hyperglycaemia and prevent secondary complications in diabetes.
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