The effect of Momordica charantia and Mucuna pruriens in experimental diabetes and their effect on key metabolic enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism

Abstract

The Indian traditional system of medicine prescribed traditional plant therapies. Two such plants, i.e. Momordica charantia (MC) and Mucuna pruriens (MP), earlier shown to reduce hyperglycaemia, were assessed for their anti hyperglycaemic effect on varying degrees of hyperglycaemia and diabetic complications. Alcohol and aqueous extracts of MC (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) and only an alcohol extract of MP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day) were evaluated in a pilot study (plasma glucose >180 mg/dL, 21 days), a chronic study in alloxanized rats (plasma glucose >280mg/dL, 120 days) and streptozotocin (STZ) mice (plasma glucose >400 mg/dL, 60 days). In the pilot study, the maximum antihyperglycaemic effect occurred with an aqueous extract of MC at week 3 and an alcohol extract of MP at week 6 at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day. In chronic alloxanized rats, the selected dose of MC led to a significant fall of 64.33%, 66.96%, 69.7% and 70.53% in plasma glucose levels at 1, 2, 3 and 4 months, respectively. MP showed a decrease of 40.71%, 45.63%, 50.33% and 51.01% at the same time period. In chronic STZ diabetic mice, MC led to a mean reduction of 15.37%, 18.68% and 22.86% in plasma glucose levels on days 40, 50 and 60 of sampling while MP had no significant effect. The alteration in hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogen content and hepatic glucokinase, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate and phosphofructokinase levels in diabetic mice were partially restored by MC but not by MP. The mechanism of action of MC and MP is discussed.

Attenuation of experimentally induced diabetic neuropathy in association with reduced oxidative-nitrosative stress by chronic administration of <i>Momordica charantia</i>

“…The present study confirms the earlier reports of beneficial effect of MC on hyperglycemia [40,41], diabetic induced neuropathy [17] and oxidative stress [11]. Various mechanisms have been suggested to explain the antihyperglycemic effect of MC such as inhibition of glucose absorption [15], extra pancreatic effect [42], decrease in hepatic gluconeogenesis, increase in glucose oxidation [43], increase in number of beta cells [44] and insulinomimetic activity [45]. However, the present data, suggest that an insulinomimetic action, if one exists, would be minor because unlike insulin, MC treatment produced insignificant body weight gain compared to diabetic control animals.…”

Effects of hydro-ethanol extract of Citrullus colocynthis on blood glucose levels and pathology of organs in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

“…Oxidative stress plays an important role in the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia is involved in the generation of oxygen-free radicals [8] . C. colocynthis contains large amounts of phenolics and flavonoids that have antioxidant activity [9] .…”

Phenyllactic Acid from Lactobacillus plantarum PromotesAdipogenic Activity in 3T3-L1 Adipocyte via Up-Regulationof PPAR-γ2

“…Muscle and adipose tissue contain at least two kinds of glucose transporter, GLUT-1 and GLUT-4, among which GLUT-4 is an important insulin regulator [32]. Insulin induces glucose uptake in adipocytes by binding to its receptor proteins within cells, leading to the translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface [33]. In our results, 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes exposed to troglitazone showed increased adiponectin, PPAR-γ2, and GLUT-4 expression during differentiation and enhanced glucose uptake in adipocytes.…”