Hypoglycemic and anti-lipemic effects of the aqueous extract from Cissus sicyoides

Abstract

BackgroundCissus sicyoides (Vitaceae) is a medicinal plant popularly known in Brazil as "cipó-pucá, anil-trepador, cortina, and insulina". The plant is used in several diseases, including rheumatism, epilepsy, stroke and also in the treatment of diabetes. In the present work, we studied the hypoglycemic and anti-lipemic effects of the aqueous extract prepared from fresh leaves of the plant (AECS), in the model of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. In addition, hepatic enzyme levels were also determined.ResultsResults showed that the daily treatment of diabetic rats with AECS for 7 days (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased blood glucose levels in 25 and 22% respectively, as compared to the same groups before AECS treatment. No significant changes were seen in control diabetic rats before (48 h after alloxan administration) and after distilled water treatment. While no changes were seen in total cholesterol levels, a significant decrease was observed in plasma triglyceride levels, in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats after AECS treatment with both doses, as compared to the same groups before treatment. Significant decreases in blood glucose (25%) and triglyceride levels (48%) were also observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats after 4 days treatment with AECS (200 mg/kg, p.o.). Aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferases levels, in diabetic controls and AECS-treated rats, were in the range of reference values presented by normal rats.ConclusionsThe results justify the popular use of C. sicyoides, pointing out to the potential benefit of the plant aqueous extract (AECS) in alternative medicine, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicolson and C.E. Jarvis (Vitaceae): Its identification and usage in the sources from 16th to 19th century

“…It was reported: (1) for roots by Bauhin (1623) and Blancard (1777), however Hahnemann (1795) contested this recommendation; (2) for the herb in traditional medicine of Brazil, where it is used against epilepsy (Elisabetsky et al, 1988;Viana et al, 2004). Elisabetsky et al (1988) specified the action as anticonvulsive.…”

“…Tannins, which are usually responsible for this effect, were detected both in the herb and in the roots by Oliveira et al (2012). The modern ethnomedical usage in abscesses (Viana et al, 2004) as well as old ethnopharmacological observations from Haiti (the juice to heal wounds, the leaves to wrap vesicating wounds) by Descourtilz (1829), can be also referred to the styptic action of tannins and probably to bacteriostatic action of essential oils, too. Both tannins and essential oils were detected both in roots and in aerial parts of the plant.…”

“…Later Barbosa et al (2002), Pepato et al (2003) and Viana et al (2004) proved that aqueous extracts from leaves had hypoglycaemic and anti-lipemic action. Also, methanolic extract is gastroprotective (Ferreira et al, 2008).…”

“…In traditional medicine of Brazil aerial parts of the plant are used against rheumatism, epilepsy and stroke, and also in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 (Viana et al, 2004;Oliveira et al, 2012). In ethnic medicine it is administered as a tea prepared from the vegetative parts (Oliveira et al, 2012), a leaf decoction was reported too (Lino et al, 2007).…”

Palliative Effects of Daonil Supplemented with Tryptophan on Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Alloxan is one of the most commonly used chemical for induction of diabetes mellitus. It is a well-known diabetogenic agent widely used to induce Type 11 diabetes in animals [19]. Daonil an oral diabetic drug used to control blood sugar level in patient with mild to moderate type-2 diabetes mellitus who are unable to consistently achieve adequate normal blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone.…”