Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats

Objective:To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis(E.officinalis)fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats.Methods:Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats.The rats were divided into nine groups including control groups receiving water,type 2 diabetic controls,type 2 diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide(T2GT)and type 2diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of E.officinalis.They were fed orally for8 weeks with a single feeding.Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip on 0 and 28 days and by decapitation on 56 day.Packed red blood cells and serum were used for evaluating different biochemical parameters.Results:Four weeks administration of aqueous extract of E.officinalis improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats and after 8 weeks it caused significant(P<0.007)reduction in fasting serum glucose level compared to 0 day.Triglycerides decreased by 14%but there was no significant change in serum ALT,creatinine,cholesterol and insulin level in any group.Furthermore,reduced erythrocyte malondialdehyde level showed no significant change(P<0.07)but reduced glutathione content was found to be increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusions:The aqueous extract of E.officinalis has a promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and may be considered for further clinical studies in drug development.

The antihyperglycemic effect of Bridelia ndellensis ethanol extract and its fractions is mediated by an insulinotropic action

Backgroung: Bridelia ndellensis (Euphorbiaceae) is used as a traditional plant treatment of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism involved in the antihyperglycemic effects of this plant. Methods: An intestinal perfusion technique was used to study the effect of the ethanol extract of B. ndellensis on the intestinal absorption of glucose in normal rats fasted for 36 h. The effect of the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) on Insulin secretion was evaluated using BRIN-BD11 pancreatic cells. Results: In a perfused rat intestinal preparation in situ, the plant extract at a concentration of 5 mg/ml did not show any inhibitory effects on glucose absorption when compared with control animals. Ouabain which is an inhibitor of glucose transport across the small intestine significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the glucose absorption during the whole perfusion period compared with the control group. On the other hand, the plant extract inhibited the gastrointestinal motility induced by Barium sulphate milk in rats. The ethanol extract of B. ndellensis at concentrations of 50 and100mg/ml stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner the insulin secretion from BRIN-BD11 cells in vitro. The induction of insulin release was significantly different when compared to control with the concentration of 100 μg/ml (P < 0.001). Alanine (10 mM) used as positive control, significantly (p < 0.001) stimulated insulin release from BRIN-BD11 cells. Conclusion: The present study has revealed that B. ndellensis ethanol extract stimulates insulin secretion and does not affect the glucose absorption, and it has suggested that the antihyperglycemic effects of B. ndellensis is partly mediated by the stimulation of insulin secretion.