Hypoglycemic and pancreatic protective effects of Portulaca oleracea extract in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Abstract

BackgroundDiabetes is a major public health concern. In spite of continuous new drug development to treat diabetes, herbal remedies remain a potential adjunct therapy to maintain better glycemic control while also imparting few side-effects. Portulaca oleracea has been traditionally used to manage several diseases due to the anti-oxidant and anti-atherogenic effects it imparts. To better understand the mechanisms associated with potential protective effect of P. oleracea extract against diabetes, alloxan-induced diabetic rats were used in this study.MethodsForty Wistar rats (male, 7–8-wk-old, 140–160 g) were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): Group I (control), Group II (P. oleracea-treated; gavaged with P. oleracea extract daily [at 250 mg/kg] for 4 weeks), Group III (diabetic control; daily IP injection of alloxan [at 75 mg/kg] for 5 days) and Group IV (P. oleracea-pre-treated diabetic; gavaged with P. oleracea extract daily [at 250 mg/kg] for 4 weeks and then daily IP injection of alloxan [at 75 mg/kg] for 5 days). Body weight, food consumption, blood (serum) levels of glucose, C peptide, Hb A1C, insulin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were determined for all groups.ResultsThe results indicated that while Hb A1C, serum levels of glucose, TNF-α and IL-6 were all significantly decreased in the P. oleracea-pre-treated diabetic rats, these hosts also had significant increases in C peptide and insulin compared to levels in the counterpart diabetic rats. These results were confirmed by the histopathological assessments which showed marked improvement of the destructive effect on pancreatic islet cells induced by alloxan.ConclusionP. oleracea extract is a general tissue protective and regeneartive agent, as evidenced by increasing β-cell mass and therefore improved the glucose metabolism. Thus, stimulation of Portulaca oleracea signaling in β- cells may be a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetes prevention.

Edible halophytes of the Mediterranean basin: Potential candidates for novel food products

“…The antimutagenic potency of this plant was also investigated, and directly correlated with the antioxidant potential conferred by various phytochemicals present in plant tissues (YouGuo, ZongJi, & XiaoPing, 2009). Some of these biomolecules, namely phenolic constituents are also able to promote cardiovascular function, mainly acting as anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive agents, at same that reduce the human cancer risk (Ramadan et al, 2017). Linked with these effects, anti-atherogenic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and hepatoprotective benefits may be also reached, at same time that pronounced improvements in kidney and nervous system have been stated (Chowdhary, Meruva, Naresh, & Elumalai, 2013).…”

“…Furthermore, promising antispasmodic, anti-arthritic, antidiabetic, antiseptic, diuretic, antimicrobial, vermifuge, tonic and febrifuge potentialities have been also reported, besides their unquestionable action as an immunomodulatory agent (Chen, Li, Zhang, Xia, & Zhang, 2016). P. oleracea extracts may also stimulate the signaling in βcells and thus can be used for diabetes prevention (Ramadan et al, 2017). In addition, extract of this species inhibited the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, which is a key target in Alzheimer's disease treatment (Chen et al, 2016).…”

Diabet Hastalarında Bitkisel Ürün Kullanımı

“…Son on yılda % 50'ye kadar artan sayıdaki diyabetliler, dünyadaki tüm ölümlerin % 5 ni oluşturmaktadırlar. Diyabetin kesin çözümü olmadığı için doğal ürünler, diyabetin önlenmesi ve tedavisinde kullanılmaktadır (3). Bugüne kadar, 800 den fazla bitki türü araştırılmış ve hipoglisemik etkilerinin olduğu bulunmuştur (4).…”

Polyherbal Formulation Ameliorates Diabetes Mellitus in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats: Involvement of Pancreatic Genes Expression

“…Results of phytochemical analysis of polyherbal formulation indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides and saponins in herbal mixture extract. These phytochemicals (alkaloids, saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids) may influence glucose metabolism by different mechanisms like stimulation of insulin release from the pancreatic β cells, activation of insulin receptors, glucose uptake in the insulin sensitive cells, increasing glucokinase activity and controlling glucose release from liver (Ramadan et al, 2017).…”