Short- and long-term effects of various Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

Zerriouh

et al. 2012

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In the light of previous findings, the major aim of the present study was to investigate the potential beneficial effects of various Citrullus colocynthis L. seed extracts on such variables as glucose tolerance, body weight gain, pancreas, liver, kidney, testis, epididymal fat and diaphragm muscle weight, as well as serum cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, creatinine, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase concentrations in an animal model of type-1 diabetes mellitus, i.e. streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. For purpose of comparison, a comparable study was conducted in normal rats. Both the immediate and long-term effects of the plant extracts were assessed in rats injected daily, up to 3 weeks after the start of the experiments. The results of this study reinforce the view that both a crude aqueous extract and a n-butanol extract from the Citrullus colocynthis L. seeds may represent the best candidates in order to eventually identify a component suitable for the treatment of both type-1 and type-2 diabetic subjects.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several reports were recently published on the potential beneficial effects of Citrullus colocynthis extracts in animal models of diabetes mellitus (1)(2)(3)(4). In light of these previous findings, the present study aimed mainly at assessing the effects of five distinct extracts from Citrullus colocynthis seeds, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short- and long-term effects of various Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

Zerriouh

et al. 2012

Self Cite

“…Infusion prepared from the fruit and seeds of this plant from the cucurbitaceae family are indeed recommended to diabetic patients [5] . The chemical compounds identified in antidiabetic plants are often alkaloids and polyphenols, but also polysaccharides, gums and glycans [2] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytochemical screening and free radical scavenging activity of Citrullus colocynthis seeds extracts

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine

Bellakhdar

et al. 2013

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Objective: To study the phytochemical screening of different extracts from Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis ) seeds extracts and to assess their antioxidant activity on the DPPH free radical scavenging. Methods: Phytochemical screening, total content of polyphenols and flavonoids of C. colocynthis seeds extracts, including a crude aqueous extract (E1), a defatted aqueous extract (E2), a hydromethanolic extract (HM), an ethyl acetate extract (EA) and a n-butanol extract (n-B) was carried out according to the standard methods and to assess their corresponding effect on the antioxidant activity of this plant. Results: None of these extracts contained detectable amount of alkaloid, quinone, antraquinone, or reducing sugar. Catechic tannins and flavonoids were abundant in E1, HM and EA, whilst terpenoids were abundantly present in E1 and n-B but only weekly in HM. Coumarins were found in E2, EA and n-B. Polyphenols, expressed as gallic acid equivalent, amounted, per 100 g plant matter, to 329, 1002 and 150 mg in EA, HM an E1 respectively. Flavonoids, expressed as catechin equivalent, amounted, per 100 g plant matter to 620, 241 and 94 mg in EA, HM and E1 respectively. Comparable values were found in n-B and E1, with lower values in E2. Quercetin, myricetin and gallic acid were found in the EA and HM extracts by thin layer chromatography, The antioxidative effect of these extracts yielded, when tested at a concentration of 2 000 μg/mL in a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay, a reducing percentage of 88.8% with EA, 74.5% with HM and 66.2% with E1, and corresponding IC 50 of 350, 580 and 500 μg/mL as compared to 1.1 μg/mL for ascorbic acid. Conclusions: These qualitative and quantitative analytical data document the presence in C. colocynthis extracts of such chemical compounds as flavonoids responsible for the antioxidant activity, as well as other biological activities of this plant. Contents lists available at ScienceDirectPeer reviewer C h e r i t i A b d e l k r i m , P r o f e s s o r , D e p a r t m e n t o f C h e m i s t r y ,

“…Citrullus colocynthis belongs to the cucurbitaceae family and is a well-recognized plant in traditional medicine. The plant has been previously utilized in rural areas as a purgative, antidiabetic, insecticide and antitumoral agent (1). In a previous study, the beneficial long-term effects of Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts on glucose homeostasis and body weight maintenance were documented in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insulinotropic action of Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts in rat pancreatic islets

Molecular Medicine Reports

Hupkens³

et al. 2012

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The present study aimed to investigate the direct in vitro effects of several distinct Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts on glucose-stimulated insulin release from pancreatic islets isolated from rats. Six extracts were tested, a crude aqueous, defatted aqueous, ethyl acetate, H2O-methanol and n-butanol extract and an extract containing a major component (fraction A) identified by gel chromatography in the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and H2O-methanol extracts. Under selected experimental conditions, the majority of extracts exhibited a positive insulinotropic action, at least when tested in the presence of 8.3 mM D-glucose. The concentration-response correlation observed with distinct extracts revealed the participation of distinct chemical compounds, including compounds with an inhibitory insulinotropic potential, in the modulation of the insulin secretory response to D-glucose. The results of the present study are relevant for further investigations which aim to identify compounds exhibiting positive insulinotropic actions. These agents may be suitable for the treatment of human diabetic subjects.