Polyoxidovanadates a new therapeutic alternative for neurodegenerative and aging diseases

Aging is a natural phenomenon characterized by a progressive decline in physiological integrity,leading to a deterioration of cognitive function and increasing the risk of suffering from chronic-degenerative diseases,including cardiovascular diseases,osteoporosis,cancer,diabetes,and neurodegeneration.Aging is considered the major risk factor for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease develops.Likewise,diabetes and insulin resistance constitute additional risk factors for developing neurodegenerative disorders.Currently,no treatment can effectively reverse these neurodegenerative pathologies.However,some antidiabetic drugs have opened the possibility of being used against neurodegenerative processes.In the previous framework,Vanadium species have demonstrated a notable antidiabetic effect.Our research group evaluated polyoxidovanadates such as decavanadate and metforminium-decavanadate with preventive and corrective activity on neurodegeneration in brain-specific areas from rats with metabolic syndrome.The results suggest that these polyoxidovanadates induce neuronal and cognitive restoration mechanisms.This review aims to describe the therapeutic potential of polyoxidovanadates as insulin-enhancer agents in the brain,constituting a therapeutic alternative for aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Antidiabetic Properties of Bidens pilosa and Its Polyacetylenic Compounds for Management of Diabetes: Systematic Review

Bidens pilosa is a member of the Asteraceae family that is widely distributed across the tropics. It has been utilized by different communities both as food and medicinal herb. This plant and its polyacetylenic compounds hold potential as a natural antidiabetic intervention that can be used to combat this global public health problem. Bioactive compounds found in this plant constitute promising interventions for combating obesity which is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. These phytocompounds can work independently or synergistically to modulate appetite, lipase activity, adipogenesis and adipocyte apoptosis. However, the efficacy, mode of action and scope of management of diabetes by these compounds remains elusive. The current review aims to summarize data on efficacy in the management of diabetes, an antidiabetic candidate polyacetylenic compound and possible biological activities as an antidiabetic agent from the available literature. Much emphasis has been directed to cytopiloyne as a representative of polyacetylenic compounds extracted from Bidens pilosa and its activity on diabetic animal models. The majority of the studies conducted on animal models described antidiabetic mechanisms that range from hypoglycemic to secretagogue activity of cytopiloyne in a dose-dependent manner. A clinical trial pilot indicated improved glycemic control of Bidens pilosa formulation among diabetic patients in the study. Bidens pilosa and its compounds are highly potent antidiabetic agent(s) that should be graduated to an intervention for management of diabetes through pre-clinical and clinical trials to elucidate its efficacy and safety.

Management of diabesity:Current concepts

The global prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly with an exponential rise in incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in recent years.‘Diabesity’,the term coined to show the strong interlink between obesity and diabetes,is the direct cons-equence of the obesity pandemic,and poses significant challenges in the management of the disease.Without addressing the clinical and mechanistic complications of obesity such as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and obstructive sleep apnoea,a rational management algorithm for diabesity cannot be developed.Several classes of anti-diabetic medications including insulins,sulphonylureas,thiazolidinediones and meglitinides are associated with the risk of weight gain and may potentially worsen diabesity.Therefore,appropriate selection of antidiabetic drug regimen is crucial in the medical management of diabesity.The role of non-pharmacological measures such as dietary adjustments,exercise interventions and bariatric procedures should also be emphasised.Unfortunately,the importance of appropriate and optimal management of diabesity is often overlooked by medical professionals when achieving adequate glycemic control which results in inappropriate management of the disease and its complications.This review provides a narrative clinical update on the evidence behind the management of diabesity.

Diabetes and cognitive function:An evidence-based current perspective

Several epidemiological studies have clearly identified diabetes mellitus(DM)as a major risk factor for cognitive dysfunction,and it is going to be a major public health issue in the coming years because of the alarming rise in diabetes prevalence across the world.Brain and neural tissues predominantly depend on glucose as energy substrate and hence,any alterations in carbohydrate metabolism can directly impact on cerebral functional output including cognition,executive capacity,and memory.DM affects neuronal function and mental capacity in several ways,some of which include hypoperfusion of the brain tissues from cerebrovascular disease,diabetes-related alterations of glucose transporters causing abnormalities in neuronal glucose uptake and metabolism,local hyper-and hypometabolism of brain areas from insulin resistance,and recurrent hypoglycemic episodes inherent to pharmacotherapy of diabetes resulting in neuronal damage.Cognitive decline can further worsen diabetes care as DM is a disease largely self-managed by patients.Therefore,it is crucial to understand the pathobiology of cognitive dysfunction in relation to DM and its management for optimal long-term care plan for patients.A thorough appraisal of normal metabolic characteristics of the brain,how alterations in neural metabolism affects cognition,the diagnostic algorithm for patients with diabetes and dementia,and the management and prognosis of patients when they have this dangerous combination of illnesses is imperative in this context.This evidence-based narrative with the backup of latest clinical trial reviews elaborates the current understanding on diabetes and cognitive function to empower physicians to manage their patients in day-to-day clinical practice.

Antioxidant,antimicrobial,and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of saponin extracts from walnut(Juglans regia L.) leaves

Objective:To investigate the relationship between triterpenoid saponin content and antioxidant,antimicrobial,and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of 70%ethanolic,butanolic,aqueous,supernate and precipitate extracts of Juglans regia leaves.Methods:Triterpenoid saponins of different Juglans regia leaf extracts were measured by the vanillin method.Antioxidant activity was evaluated against DPPH and ABTS free radicals.We also assessed α-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of the leaf extracts.Pearson’s correlation coefficient was evaluated to determine the correlation between the saponin content and biological activities.Results:The butanolic extract was most effective against DPPH with an IC50of 6.63μg/mL,while the aqueous extract showed the highest scavenging activity against ABTS free radical with an IC50of 42.27μg/mL.Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a strong negative correlation (r=-0.956) between DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50) and the saponin content in the samples examined.In addition,the aqueous extract showed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity compared with other extracts.All the extracts had fair antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis,Escherichia coli,and Klebsiella pneumoniae except for the aqueous extract.Conclusions:Juglans regia extracts show potent antioxidant,antimicrobial,and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.There is a correlation between saponin levels in Juglans regia leaf extracts and the studied activities.However,additional research is required to establish these relationships by identifying the specific saponin molecules responsible for these activities and elucidating their mechanisms of action.

Astragalus adscendens extract shows antidiabetic effects through controlling oxidative stress,inflammation and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To assess the effect of oral treatment of methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Astragalus adscendens in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods:In order to induce diabetes,rats intraperitoneally received streptozotocin at 65 mg/kg.Sixty adult male Wistar rats were allocated into six groups(10 rats per each)including the healthy control group,the diabetic group as well as the diabetic group treated with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract at 50,100,and 200 mg/kg per day or glibenclamide(0.6 mg/kg/day)for 28 d.The effects of Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract on the levels of glucose,insulin,alanine aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,aspartate aminotransferase,bilirubin,creatinine,urea,uric acid,total protein,albumin,triglyceride,cholesterol,α-amylase,oxidant/antioxidant enzymes,and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated.Real time-PCR was also used for measuring the gene expression of caspase-3,Bcl2,and Bax.Results:The levels of glucose,cholesterol,triglyceride,creatinine,urea,uric acid,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin,and malondialdehyde considerably declined(P<0.001)in diabetic rats after treatment with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract especially at a dose of 200 mg/kg.In addition,treatment with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract noticeably increased the level of insulin,total protein,and albumin as well as improved the activities of catalase,glutathione peroxidase,and superoxide dismutase,as well as the expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,caspase-3,Bcl2 and Bax(P<0.001)compared to the diabetic control group.The extract also inhibitedα-amylase in a dose-dependent manner with an IC_(50)value of 19.6μg/mL.Conclusions:Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract shows potent antidiabetic,anti-inflammatory,anti-apoptotic,and antioxidant effects in diabetic rats.However,more studies are needed to verify the underlying mechanism of the effect of this plant extract and test its efficacy in clinical trials.

Potential therapeutic targets for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Glucagon-like peptide 1

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most rapidly growing contributor to liver mortality and morbidity.Hepatocellular injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is caused by an increase in metabolic substrates(glucose,fructose,and fatty acids),leading fatty acids to participate in pathways that cause cellular injury and a poor response to injury.The pathogenesis of this disease is largely associated with obesity,type 2 diabetes,and increasing age.To date,there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for NAFLD/NASH or its associated fibrosis.Since one of the pathogenic drivers of NASH is insulin resistance,therapies approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are being evaluated in patients with NASH.Currently,the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist(GLP-1RA)semaglutide is a safe,well-studied therapeutic for NAFLD/NASH patients.Existing research demonstrates that semaglutide can increase the resolution of NASH but not improve fibrosis.However,improving the fibrosis of NAFLD is the only way to improve the long-term prognosis of NAFLD.Given the complex pathophysiology of NASH,combining therapies with complementary mechanisms may be beneficial.Researchers have conducted trials of semaglutide in combination with antifibrotic drugs.However,the results have not fully met expectations,and it cannot be ruled out that the reason is the short trial time.We should continue to pay increasing attention to GLP-1RAs.

Role of antidiabetic agents in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the target tissues have a decreased response to insulin signaling,resulting in glucose uptake defect,and an increased blood sugar level.Pancreatic beta cells thus enhance insulin production to compensate.This situation may cause further beta cell dysfunction and failure,which can lead diabetes mellitus(DM).Insulin resistance is thus an important cause of the development of type 2 DM.Insulin resistance has also been found to have a strong relationship with cardiovascular disease and is common in chronic kidney disease(CKD)patients.The mechanisms of insulin resistance in CKD are complex and multifactorial.They include physical inactivity,inflammation and oxidative stress,metabolic acidosis,vitamin D deficiency,adipose tissue dysfun-ction,uremic toxins,and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation.Currently,available anti-diabetic agents,such as biguanides,sulfonylureas,thiazolidinediones,alfa-glucosidase inhibitors,glucagon-like peptide-1-based agents,and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors,have different effects on insulin resistance.In this short review,we describe the potential mechanisms of insulin resistance in CKD patients.We also review the interaction of currently available anti-diabetic medications with insulin resistance.

Design of New Thiadiazole Derivatives with Improved Antidiabetic Activity

Diabetes is a serious, long-term (or chronic) disease that occurs when a person’s blood sugar levels are high because their body cannot produce enough insulin, or does not produce enough insulin or that it cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. According to the literature, this disease has several causes, but certain types of diabetes such as type 2 diabetes are most closely linked to a metabolic disorder due to abdominal obesity. Thus, the number of individuals with type 2 diabetes is increasing. It is with this in mind that we work to improve human health. The aim of this study is to design new derivatives of 1,3,4-thiadiazole with improved antidiabetic activity by the mathematical model of multiple linear regression (MLR) established previously. The analysis of the effect on the substituents influencing the antidiabetic activity, fourteen (14) new molecules coded CDTH were generated and presenting values of the potential of inhibitory concentration higher than that of the base compound (pIC50 = 2.526). But thirteen (13) of these new compounds belong to the domain of applicability of the MLR model established previously. In addition, the thermodynamic quantities of formation formed at 298K have been calculated. Lipinski’s rule and pharmacokinetic properties proved that five (5) (TH4, TH9, TH10, TH13 and TH14) new molecules can be used as diabetes medicine.

Insulin-mimetic compound hexaquis(benzylammonium) decavanadate is antilipolytic in human fat cells

AIM To assess in rodent and human adipocytes the antilipolytic capacity of hexaquis(benzylammonium) decavanadate(B6V10), previously shown to exert antidiabetic effects in rodent models, such as lowering free fatty acids(FFA) and glucose circulating levels.METHODS Adipose tissue(AT) samples were obtained after informed consent from overweight women undergoing plastic surgery. Comparison of the effects of B6V10 and reference antilipolytic agents(insulin,benzylamine,vanadate) on the lipolytic activity was performed on adipocytes freshly isolated from rat, mouse and human AT. Glycerol release was measured using colorimetric assay as an index of lipolytic activity. The influence of B6V10 and reference agents on glucose transport into human fat cells was determined using the radiolabelled 2-deoxyglucose uptake assay.RESULTS In all the species studied, B6V10 exhibited a dosedependent inhibition of adipocyte lipolysis when triglyceride breakdown was moderately enhanced by β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. B6V10 exerted on human adipocyte a maximal lipolysis inhibition of glycerol release that was stronger than that elicited by insulin. However, B6V10 did not inhibit basal and maximally stimulated lipolysis. When incubated at dose ≥ 10 μmol/L, B6V10 stimulated by twofold the glucose uptake in human fat cells, but-similarly to benzylamine-without reaching the maximal effect of insulin, while it reproduced one-half of the insulin-stimulation of lipogenesis in mouse fat cells. CONCLUSION B6V10 exerts insulin-like actions in adipocytes, including lipolysis inhibition and glucose transport activation. B6V10 may be useful in limiting lipotoxicity related to obesity and insulin resistance.

Introducing New Peptide Extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Achatina achatina Fluids with Strong Inhibitory Activities on Human α-Amylase

This study aimed at exploring for new natural peptides with strong inhibitory capabilities on α-amylase, the main metabolic enzyme that regulates mellitus diabetes, in order to contribute in controlling this global pandemic. It has consisted in heat shock (to 60&deg;C, 70&deg;C, 80&deg;C, 90&deg;C and 100&deg;C for 10, 20 and 30 minutes) of crude proteins extracted from biomass and extracellular parts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under cultivation, and from the digestive fluid of the giant snail Achatina achatina, and in-vitro assays of the resulting solutions, as effectors, in human α-amylase catalyzing reactions. The results showed that whatever the temperature and time of treatment, an increase (from 2.65 to 3.98-fold) in proteins concentration was noticed. When blended up to 75 microliters in reaction mixtures, the three peptide extracts showed beyond 11% of inhibition of initial α-amylase activity. By reducing samples volume, only 5 microliters of the studied peptide extracts representing 4.70 μg of S. cerevisiae biomass peptides, 0.55 μg of S. cerevisiae extracellular peptides or 1.05 μg of peptides from the digestive fluid A. achatina were quite sufficient to induce complete (100%) inhibition of the human α-amylase activity. Compared to the inhibitory effect obtained from 2.50 μg of acarbose, a renowned antidiabetic, the studied peptide effectors showed more pronounced inhibitory activities. So, we can positively state that S. cerevisiae as well as A. achatina are both capable of synthesizing proteins made up of small inhibitory peptides which deserve purification and structural analysis for potential exploitation as healthy antidiabetic drugs.

Update on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

To achieve good metabolic control in diabetes and keep long term, a combination of changes in lifestyle and pharmacological treatment is necessary. Achieving near-normal glycated hemoglobin significantly, decreases risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications. At present there are different treatments, both oral and injectable, available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Treatment algorithms designed to reduce the development or progression of the complications of diabetes emphasizes the need for good glycaemic control. The aim of this review is to perform an update on the benefits and limitations of different drugs, both current and future, for the treatment of T2 DM. Initial intervention should focus on lifestyle changes. Moreover, changes in lifestyle have proven to be beneficial, but for many patients is a complication keep long term. Physicians should be familiar with the different types of existing drugs for the treatment of diabetes and select the most effective, safe and better tolerated by patients. Metformin remains the first choice of treatment for most patients. Other alternative or second-line treatment options should be individualized depending on the characteristics of each patient. This article reviews the treatments available for patients with T2 DM, with an emphasis on agents introduced within the last decade.

Moringa oleifera:A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application

Moringa oleifera,native to India,grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.It is commonly known as‘drumstick tree’or‘horseradish tree’.Moringa can withstand both severe drought and mild frost conditions and hence widely cultivated across the world.With its high nutritive values,every part of the tree is suitable for either nutritional or commercial purposes.The leaves are rich in minerals,vitamins and other essential phytochemicals.Extracts from the leaves are used to treat malnutrition,augment breast milk in lactating mothers.It is used as potential antioxidant,anticancer,anti-inflammatory,antidiabetic and antimicrobial agent.M.oleifera seed,a natural coagulant is extensively used in water treatment.The scientific effort of this research provides insights on the use of moringa as a cure for diabetes and cancer and fortification of moringa in commercial products.This review explores the use of moringa across disciplines for its medicinal value and deals with cultivation,nutrition,commercial and prominent pharmacological properties of this“Miracle Tree”.

Transdermal drug delivery systems in diabetes management: A review

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which there is an insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas, or the insulin produced is unable to be utilized effectively by the body. Diabetes affects more than 415 million people globally and is estimated to strike about 642 million people in 2040. The WHO reported that diabetes will become the seventh biggest cause of mortality in 2030. Insulin injection and oral hypoglycemic agents remain the primary treatments in diabetes management. These often present with poor patient compliance. However, over the last decade, transdermal systems in diabetes management have gained increasing attention and emerged as a potential hope in diabetes management owing to the advantages that they offer as compared to invasive injection and oral dosage forms. This review presents the recent advances and developments in transdermal research to achieve better diabetes management. Different technologies and approaches have been explored and applied to the transdermal systems to optimize diabetes management. Studies have shown that these transdermal systems demonstrate higher bioavailability compared to oral administration due to the avoidance of first-pass hepatic metabolism and a sustained drug release pattern. Besides that, transdermal systems have the advantage of reducing dosing frequency as drugs are released at a predetermined rate and control blood glucose level over a prolonged time, contributing to better patient compliance. In summary, the transdermal system is a field worth exploring due to its significant advantages over oral route in administration of antidiabetic drugs and biosensing of blood glucose level to ensure better clinical outcomes in diabetes management.

Antidiabetic and haematological effect of aqueous extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana(Smith) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Objective:To investigate the antidiabetic properties of aqueous extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana(A.africana)and its beneficial effect on haematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods:A total of 30 rats including 24 diabetic and 6 normal rats were used for this study.Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.After being confirmed diabetic,animals were orally treated with distilled water or extracts at 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days.The haematological parameters including red blood and white blood cells and their functional indices were evaluated in diabetic treated groups compared with the controls.Results:The extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels while the best result was obtained at 200 mg/kg body weight The feed and water intake in diabetic rats were significantly reduced while weight loss was minimized at both dosages.Similarly,the levels of red blood,white blood cells and their functional indices were significantly improved after extract administration at both doses.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of bark of A.africana possesses antihyperglycemic properties.In addition,the extract can prevent various complications of diabetes and improve some haematological parameters.Further experimental investigation is needed to exploit its relevant therapeutic effect to substantiate its ethnomedicinal usage.

Antidiabetic activity of alcoholic leaves extract of Alangium lamarckii Thwaites on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetic rats

Objective:To investigate antidiabetic potential of alcoholic leaves extract of Alangium lamarekii (A.lamarckii) on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type 2 diabetic rats.Methods:Oral glucose tolerance test was done by inducing hyperglycemic state via administration of glucose in water(2 g/kg).Single dose of alcoholic leaves extract of.4.lamarckii(250 and 500 mg/kg,p.o.) were administered to normoglycemic,hyperglycemic rats.Type 2 diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide(110 mg/kg) followed by streptozotocin(65 mg/kg).The study also included estimations of blood plasma glucose,lipid profile,liver glycogen,body weight and antioxidant status in normal and diabetic rats.Results:Admistration of alcoholic extract of A.lamarekii at two dosage 250 and 500 rag/kg,p.o.did not showed any significant change in blood glucose level of normoglycemic rats(P】0.05).whereas,oral glucose tolerance test depicted reduction in blood glucose level(P【0.05).The streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats, significantly decreased the blood plasma glucose level(P【0.001) comparable to glibenclamide (10 mg/kg),restored the lipid profile and showed improvement in liver glycogen,body weight and antioxidant status in diabetic rats.Conclusions:Present finding demonstrated the significant antidiabetic activity of alcoholic leaves extract of.4.lamarekii.

A review on promising phytochemical, nutritional and glycemic control studies on Moringa oleifera Lam. in tropical and sub-tropical regions

Plants have provided sources to find novel compounds. These plants are being used as therapeutic purposes since the birth of mankind. The traditional healers normally utilize medicinal plants as crude drugs while scientists using the folk claim as guides to explore medicinal plants. Moringa oleifera is a famous edible plant having therapeutic and nutritive values. The present study was designed to cumulate the research data regarding to what extent, phytochemical, nutritional and glycemic control studies has been explored using its different extracts. The articles indicated that the powder, aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of Moringa oleifera(leaves, pods, seeds, stem and root bark) have significant therapeutic herbal potential to treat diabetes mellitus. Collectively, the mechanism behind is intestinal glucose inhibition, insulin release as well as decrease in insulin resistance probably regeneration of b-cells of pancreas, increase in glutathione and reduction in malondialdehyde. Conclusively, this article give descriptive information about antidiabetic effect, claimed marker compounds and proposed antihyperglycemic mechanism of a single plant. It can be suggested a potential herbal source to treat diabetes mellitus as being widely accepted by major population as nutrition and therapeutic agent.

Antihyperglycemic effect of Hypericum perforatum ethyl acetate extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of ethyl acetate extract of Hypericum perforatum(H.perforatum)in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Methods:Acute toxicity and oral glucose tolerance lest were performed in normal rats.Male albino rats were rendered diabetic by ST/(40 mg/kg,intraperitoneally).H.perforatum ethyl acetate extract was orally administered to diabetic rats at SO,100 and 200 mg/kg doses for 15 days to determine the antihyperglycemic activity.Biochemical parameters were determined at the end of the treatment.Results:H.perforatum ethyl acetate extract showed dose dependant fall in fasting blood glucose(FBG).After 30 min of extract administration,FBG was reduced significantly when compared with normal rats.H.perforatum ethyl acetate extract produced significant reduction in plasma glucose level,serum total cholesterol,triglycerides,glucose-6-phosphatase levels.Tissue glycogen content,HDL-cholesterol,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly increased compared with diabetic control.No death or lethal effect was observed in the toxic study.Conclusions:The results demonstrate that H.perforatum ethyl acetate extract possesses potent antihyperglycemic activity in STZ induced diabetic rats.

An overview on antidiabetic medicinal plants having insulin mimetic property

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders acquiring around 2.8%of the world's population and is anticipated to cross 5.4%by the year 2025.Since long back herbal medicines have been the highly esteemed source of medicine therefore,they have become a growing part of modern,high-tech medicine.In view of the above aspects the present review provides profiles of plants(65 species) with hypoglycaemic properties,available through literature source from various database with proper categorization according to the parts used,mode of reduction in blood glucose(insulinomimetic or insulin secretagugues activity) and active phyloconsliluents having insulin mimetics activity.From the review it was suggested that,plant showing hypoglycemic potential mainly belongs to the family Leguminoseae,Lamiaceae,Liliaceae,Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae,Moraceae,Rosaceae and Araliaceae.The most active plants are Allium sativum. Gymnema sylvestre,Citrullus colocynthis,Trigonella foenum greacum,Momordica charantia and Ficuts bengalensis.The review describes some new bioactive drugs and isolated compounds from plants such as roseoside,epigallocatechin gallate,beta-pyrazol-1-ylalanine,cinchonain Ib,leucocyandin 3-O-beta-d-galactosyl cellobioside,leucopelargonidin-3- O-alpha-L rhamuoside,glycyrrhetinic acid,dehydrotrametenolic acid,strictinin,isostrictinin,pedunculagin, epicatechin and christinin-A showing significant insulinomimetic and antidiabetic activity with more efficacy than conventional hypoglycaemic agents.Thus,from the review majorly,the antidiabetic activity of medicinal plants is attributed to the presence of polyphenols,flavonoida, terpenoids,coumarins and other constituents which show reduction in blood glucose levels.The review also discusses the management aspect of diabetes mellitus using these plants and their active principles.

Evaluation of the anti-diabetic properties of Mucuna pruriens seed extract

Objective:To explore the antidiabetic properties of Mucuna pruriens(M.pruriens).Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by single intravenous injection of 120 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate and different doses of the extract were administered to diabetic rats.The blood glucose level was determined using a glucometer and results were compared with normal and untreated diabetic rats.The acute toxicity was also determined in albino mice.Results:Results showed that the administration of 5,10,20,30,40,50,and 100 mg/kg of the crude ethanolic extract of M.pruriens seeds to alloxan-induced diabetic rats(plasma glucose 】 450 mg/dL) resulted in 18.6%,24.9%,30.8%,41.4%,49.7%,53.1%and 55.4%reduction,respectively in blood glucose level of the diabetic rats after 8h of treatment while the administration of glibenclamide (5 mg/kg/day) resulted in 59.7%reduction.Chronic administration of the extract resulted in a significant dose dependent reduction in the blood glucose level(P【0.001).It also showed that the antidiabetic activity of M.pruriens seeds resides in the methanolic and ethanolic fractions of the extract.Acute toxicity studies indicated that the extract was relatively safe at low doses,although some adverse reactions were observed at higher doses(8-32 mg/kg body weight),no death was recorded.Furthermore,oral administration of M.pruriens seed extract also significandy reduced the weight loss associated with diabetes.Conclusions:The study clearly supports the traditional use of M.pruriens for the treatment of diabetes and indicates that the plant could be a good source of potent antidiabetic drug.