Anti-diabetic Activity of Methanol Leaf Extract of Costus pictus D. DON in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The methanol extract of Costus pictus (C. pictus) D.DON (Family: Zingiberaceae) leaf was investigated for its anti-diabetic effect in Wistar Albino rats. Diabetes was induced in Albino rats by administration of single doses of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p.). The methanol extract of C. pictus (MECP) at a dose of 120 mg/kg, p.o. was administered as single dose per day to diabetes-induced rats for a period of 21 days. The effect of MECP leaf extract on blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum lipid profile [cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, very lowdensity lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)], serum enzymes [serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], total protein, and liver glycogen were measured in the diabetic rats. Histopathological studies of liver, pancreas and kidney were also carried out. MECP elicited significant (p < 0.001) reductions of blood glucose, lipid parameters except HDL, and serum enzymes and significantly (p < 0.001) increased HDL level. MECP also caused significant (p < 0.001) increases in plasma insulin levels in the diabetic rats. Furthermore, MECP significantly (p < 0.05), (p < 0.001) increased total protein and liver glycogen in diabetic rats. Histopathological observations revealed that leaf is non-toxic and regenerates the toxic effect of alloxan. From the above results, it is concluded that MECP possesses significant anti-diabetic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

<i>Costus Pictus</i> Extracts Stimulate Insulin Secretion from Mouse and Human Islets of Langerhans <i>In Vitro</i>

“…Thus, 28 d oral administration of the same aqueous CP extract as used in the current study to hyperglycemic rats at 2 gm/kg body weight induced a significant (p<0.001) reduction in fasting blood glucose levels, associated with increased serum insulin levels [11]. Other studies have also reported similar results [10][11][12]. It is difficult to investigate cellular mechanisms of action using in vivo models, so in our current study we investigated the acute effect of a CP extract in vitro using MIN6 cells and primary mouse and human islets.…”

“…The plant, commonly known as spiral ginger, belongs to the Costaceae family and grows in gardens as an ornamental climbing plant [8][9]. The antidiabetic activity of a CP extract has been tested chronically in animals in vivo, where it was reported to reduce blood glucose levels in rats in which hyperglycemia had been induced by administering the -cell toxins alloxan or streptozotocin (STZ) [10][11][12]. The precise mechanism of the glucoselowering effect of CP is not completely clear but it may be due to 1) an inhibition of -amylase and -glucosidase enzymes resulting in reduced carbohydrate absorption [13]; 2) an increase in GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in insulin-responsive target tissues [14]; or 3) a direct stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreaticcells [12].…”

Aprovechamiento sostenible y conservación de las plantas medicinales en Cantarranas, Huehuetla, Hidalgo, México, como un medio para mejorar la calidad de vida en la comunidad

“…Es una especie originaria de México, utilizada en la India como ornamental, en donde la gente local come las hojas y la raíz como antihelmíntico; su propagación es muy rápida en suelo, por medio de raíces y vástagos; los extractos de sus hojas presentan actividad hipoglucemiante, por lo que es importante la promoción de su cultivo, para así hacer crecer el desarrollo y disponibilidad de una medicina natural para pacientes diabéticos (Benny, 2004). De igual manera se han demostrado sus efectos antidiabéticos con extractos de hojas, presentando reducción de glucosa y lípidos en sangre, incremento en niveles de insulina plasmática, proteínas y glucógeno hepático, sin efectos tóxicos en riñón, hígado y páncreas (Jothivel et al, 2007). Si bien, en Cantarranas, C. scaber es utilizada para tratar afecciones renales, debe considerarse que este es uno de los principales padecimientos ocasionados por la diabetes mellitus (Nathan, 1996).…”

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“…The methanol extract of C. pictus leaves when administered as single dose per day to diabetesinduced rats for 21 days elicited significant reductions of blood glucose, thus C. pictus leaves seem to be good anti-diabetic agent (Jothivel et al, 2007) 48 .…”