Metabolic Effects of Tulbaghia Violacea Harv. In a Diabetic Model.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a cluster of metabolic diseases with chronic hyperglycemia as a defining feature, associated with long-term organ damage and dysfunction. In this study we examined the effect of Tulbaghia violacea rhizome methanolic extract on blood glucose and lipids in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats (250-300g) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with streptozotocin (60mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes; or provided with distilled water for the control (CON) (3 ml/kg/b.w.) animals and treatment with TVL (60mg/kg.b.w). The rats were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals per group as follows: Non-diabetic control (NDC)-received distilled water (3ml/kg.b.w), Non-diabetic TVL (ND+TVL)-received TVL (60mh/kg b.w), Diabetic control (DC)-received distilled water (3ml/kg.b.w), Diabetic experimental (D+TVL)-received TVL (60mg/kg.b.w), Diabetic experimental (D+M)-received Metformin (250 mg/kg.b.w). All doses were administered daily via oral gavage. Results: TVL-treated animals showed reduced blood glucose, increased plasma insulin, reduced plasma TG, TC, VLDL and increased HDL. Furthermore we found decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide significantly. Regarding renal parameters we found increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and improved renal morphology in TVL-treated animals. Conclusion: Tulbaghia violacea has a hypoglycaemic effect which could due to its effects on multiple pathways of the hyperglycemic process. Further work is needed to identify the mechanism of its antidiabetic effect.

The Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Tulbaghia, Allium, Crinum and Cyrtanthus: ‘Talented’ Taxa from the Amaryllidaceae

“…In streptozotocin diabetes-induced rat models, T. violacea attenuated diabetes-associated physiological conditions resulting in improved body weights, reduced fasting blood glucose levels, enhanced glucose tolerance and significantly elevated plasma insulin and liver glycogen content [96]. These data were corroborated in another study in which T. violacea noticeably reduced blood glucose and serum lipid (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)) levels while raising plasma insulin in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model [97]. In an assessment for negating cardiovascular associated conditions, T. violacea in in vivo models markedly reduced systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the heart rate in both ageinduced and spontaneous hypertensive rats [98].…”

A Review of the Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Utilising Southern African Indigenous Medicinal Plants

“…It is a bulbous plant that is characterised by hairless leaves arising from a white fleshy stalk, purple flowers, and a distinctive odour similar to Allium sativum when the leaves or rhizome are crushed. The plant has been used traditionally to treat ailments such as headaches, fever, constipation, rheumatism, heart problems, chest problems, fits, and paralysis [90][91][92][93]. Madike et al [94] reported on the phytochemical screening of the aqueous leaf and bulb extracts of T. violacea and showed the presence of saponins, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, terpenoids, proteins, flavonoids, and phenols.…”