Akalpita U. Arvindekar

Alpha glucosidase inhibition by stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia

Inhibitors of alpha glucosidase have potential use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia was evaluated for inhibition of the enzyme. The extract was also found to inhibit the salivary and pancreatic amylase and therefore can effectively reduce an increase in postprandial glucose level. The crude ethyl acetate, dichloromethane (DCM), chloroform and hexane extracts of Tinospora cordifolia were studied. 15 mg of the DCM extract was most effective in that showed 100 % inhibition of the alpha glucosidase whereas salivary amylase was inhibited to the extent of 75 % and pancreatic amylase to 83 %. On giving a maltose load of 2mg / g along with 0.3 mg / g body weight of the DCM Tinospora stem extract a decrease was revealed in the hyperglycemic shoot up in normal and diabetic animals by 50 and 58 % respectively as compared to the controls. The extract was found to inhibit alpha glucosidase in a non-competitive manner.

Glycogen--a covalently linked component of the cell wall in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Glycogen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is present in two pools, one soluble and intracellular, the other present in the cell wall and rendered water‐insoluble owing to its covalent linkage to cell wall β‐glucan. The insoluble glycogen fraction was solubilized using β‐1,3‐glucanase. The αβ‐glucan complex obtained showed intense red staining with iodine and was isolated from free β‐glucans by affinity chromatography using concanavalin A sepharose 4B. Further use of molecular sieving has confirmed that glycogen is linked to β‐glucan as the non‐retained fraction on Biogel P2 split into two peaks on treatment with amyloglucosidase. Partial acid hydrolysis and subsequent paper chromatography of the αβ‐glucan complex isolated revealed the presence of gentiobiose and other higher oligosaccharides, indicating that glycogen is linked to β‐1,3‐glucan through a β‐1,6 branch. The insoluble glycogen can be extracted in a soluble form by acetic acid treatment and is known as acid‐soluble glycogen. The presence of glycogen in the cell wall is confirmed by controlled enzymatic release of αβ‐glucan complex using lyticase from Arthobacter luteus without disruption of the plasma membrane, as can be visualized using electron microscopy. Copyright

Inhibition of aldose reductase and anti-cataract action of trans-anethole isolated from Foeniculum vulgare Mill. fruits

Foeniculum vulgare fruits are routinely consumed for their carminative and mouth freshening effect. The plant was evaluated for aldose reductase inhibition and anti-diabetic action. Bioguided fractionation using silica gel column chromatography, HPLC, and GC-MS analysis revealed trans-anethole as the bioactive constituent possessing potent aldose reductase inhibitory action, with an IC50 value of 3.8μg/ml. Prolonged treatment with the pet ether fraction of the F. vulgare distillate demonstrated improvement in blood glucose, lipid profile, glycated haemoglobin and other parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Trans-anethole could effectively show anti-cataract activity through the increase in soluble lens protein, reduced glutathione, catalase and SOD activity on in vitro incubation of the eye lens with 55mM glucose. Trans-anethole demonstrated noncompetitive to mixed type of inhibition of lens aldose reductase using Lineweaver Burk plot.

Effective Control of Postprandial Glucose Level through Inhibition of Intestinal Alpha Glucosidase by Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.)

Inhibition of intestinal alpha glucosidase plays a major role in preventing rise in postprandial glucose level in diabetics. Cymbopogon martinii (CM) (family Poaceae) is used in traditional Indian medicine in treatment of diabetes mellitus. The alpha glucosidase inhibitory action of the plant is studied. The active component was separated using hot water extraction of the whole plant powder, differential solvent extraction, and silica gel column chromatography. The 30 : 70 toluene : ethyl acetate fraction showed optimum activity. The silica gel chromatography fraction demonstrated 98, 98, and 68% inhibition for starch, maltose, and sucrose, respectively, at 5 mg/kg body weight of rats. Intestinal absorption studies using noneverted intestinal sacs, as well as in vivo studies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using oral glucose tolerance with maltose and sucrose load, revealed better inhibition of alpha glucosidase as compared to acarbose. Kinetic studies using Lineweaver Burk plot showed mixed to noncompetitive type of inhibition by CM. In vivo studies with maltose load of 2 mg and 3 mg/gm body weight showed a noncompetitive pattern of inhibition at 5 mg/kg body weight of CM as against 60 mg/kg body weight of acarbose. Thus CM is more effective alpha glucosidase inhibitor and at lower concentration than acarbose.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of Santalum album in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Context: Santalum album Linn (Santalaceae), commonly known as Sandalwood is used traditionally for its antihyperlipidemic and diuretic activity. Objective: This study investigated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of long-term oral administration of the Santalum album pet ether fraction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 70 mg/kg body weight. Rats were treated with Santalum album pet ether fraction orally at a dose of 10 µg/kg body weight twice daily for 60 days. Metformin (30 mg/kg body weight) was used as positive control. Lipid profile and glycated hemoglobin were estimated. HPLC profiling of Santalum album pet ether fraction was carried out. Results and discussion: Treatment of diabetic rats for 60 days demonstrated reduction in blood glucose level by 140 mg/dl. Metformin treated group showed a decrease in blood glucose by 70 mg/dl, as against an increase in diabetic control group by 125 mg/dl. Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels were decreased by 22, 31 and 44%, respectively, in treated diabetic rats whereas, cardioprotective, high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased by 46%. In case of metformin, the values were 11, 29 and 15% respectively, while HDL increased by 7%. Significant improvement in atherogenic index from 267 to 139% was observed in treated rats. Conclusion: Santalum album pet ether fraction has potential antihyperlipidemic activity that can help in overcoming insulin resistance.

Aegle marmelos Correa leaf extract prevents secondary complications in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats and demonstration of limonene as a potent antiglycating agent

To study the antiglycating, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of Aegle marmelos Correa leaf extract and identify the bioactive constituent.

Insulinotropic and β-cell protective action of cuminaldehyde, cuminol and an inhibitor isolated from Cuminum cyminum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Cuminum cyminum, a commonly used spice, is known to have anti-diabetic action. The present study aims towards the isolation of bioactive components from C. cyminum and the evaluation of their insulin secretagogue potential with the probable mechanism and β-cell protective action. The anti-diabetic activity was detected in the petroleum ether (pet ether) fraction of the C. cyminum distillate and studied through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Bioactive components were identified through GC-MS, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and NMR analysis. The isolated components were evaluated for their insulin secretagogue action using rat pancreatic islets. Further, the probable mechanism of stimulation of islets was evaluated through in vitro studies using diazoxide, nifedipine and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. β-Cell protection was evaluated using the (1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan) (MTT) assay, the alkaline comet assay and nitrite production. The administration of the pet ether fraction for 45 d to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats revealed an improved lipid profile. Cuminaldehyde and cuminol were identified as potent insulinotrophic components. Cuminaldehyde and cuminol (25 μg/ml) showed 3·34- and 3·85-fold increased insulin secretion, respectively, than the 11·8 mm-glucose control. The insulinotrophic action of both components was glucose-dependent and due to the closure of the ATP-sensitive K (K⁺-ATP) channel and the increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration. An inhibitor of insulin secretion with potent β-cell protective action was also isolated from the same pet ether fraction. In conclusion, C. cyminum was able to lower blood glucose without causing hypoglycaemia or β-cell burn out. Hence, the commonly used spice, C. cyminum, has the potential to be used as a novel insulinotrophic therapy for prolonged treatment of diabetes.

Antidiabetic activity of Kalanchoe pinnata in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by glucose independent insulin secretagogue action

Abstract Context. Kalanchoe pinnata Lam. (Crassulaceae) is used as a traditional medicine worldwide to treat several ailments, including diabetes. However, the mechanism for the antihyperglycemic action is unknown. Objective: The present study evaluates the antihyperglycemic and insulin secretagogue potential of Kalanchoe pinnata and assessment of the probable mechanism of action. Materials and methods: Steam distillate of Kalanchoe pinnata leaves was subjected to solvent fractionation and antidiabetic activity was detected in dichloromethane (DCM) fraction. In the in vivo studies, rats were treated with 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight of DCM fraction for 45 days orally. Lipid profile and other biochemical parameters were estimated. The probable mechanism for insulin secretagogue action was evaluated through studies using diazoxide and nifedipine. The bioactive component from DCM fraction was studied using HPTLC, GCMS and IR. Results and discussion: Fasting blood glucose values were reduced to 116 mg/dl from 228 mg/dl on treatment with 10 mg/kg body weight of DCM fraction, while glycated hemoglobin improved to 8.4% compared with 12.9% in diabetic controls. The insulin level and lipid profile values were close to normal values. In vitro studies demonstrated a dose-dependent insulin secretagogue action. Insulin secretion was 3.29-fold higher at 10 µg/ml as compared to the positive control. The insulin secretagogue activity was glucose independent and K+-ATP channel dependent. The bioactive component of the DCM fraction was identified to be a phenyl alkyl ether derivative. Conclusion: The DCM fraction of Kalanchoe pinnata demonstrates excellent insulin secretagogue action and can be useful in treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Effective inhibition of protein glycation by combinatorial usage of limonene and aminoguanidine through differential and synergistic mechanisms

Protein glycation is a major mechanism for establishing secondary complication in diabetes mellitus. Effective inhibition of this process can prevent progression of the disorder into secondary complications. Aminoguanidine (AMG) and limonene (LM) are known protein glycation inhibitors. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate their differential mechanisms of action and to study whether combinatorial therapy can act synergistically and lower dosage, and thereby lower toxicity in treatment of secondary complications in diabetes. Glycation in the presence of 2M urea was inhibited by 23% with AMG and by 66% with LM. AMG is more effective than LM in reducing protein carbonyl formation. SPR studies revealed binding of LM reduces affinity of BSA for glucose. LM demonstrated an increase by 2°C in thermal transition in DSC studies as against reduction by 0.4°C by AMG proving that LM can effectively stabilize the protein structure. Combinatorial treatment of AMG and LM prevented α-helix to β-sheet transitions in BSA at 100μM and inhibited AGE related fluorescence and pentosidine formation by 80 and 90% respectively. The combination can reduce dosage of AMG by almost twenty times, paving the way for effective protein glycation inhibition without toxicity.