Laxmidhar Maharana

Antidiabetic effects of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Convolvulaceae) is traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus by tribal people of north-east India and Bangladesh. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. in normal, glucose loaded and Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS The methanol (MECR) and aqueous (AECR) extracts (200 and 400mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to normal and diabetic rats with Metformin and solvent control as comparison groups. Long term effects like FBG, OGTT, lipid profile, HbA1c, body weight, histopathology of major organs, etc. were investigated. RESULTS MECR and AECR did not have hypoglycemic effects in normal rats. Both AECR and MECR (400mg/kg) treatments showed significant reduction in blood glucose during OGTT in diabetic rats at 3h. Single oral administration of methanol and aqueous extracts (400mg/kg) to diabetic rats significantly reduced (p<0.05) blood glucose level to 61.90% and 55.39% respectively as compared to the Metformin group i.e. 68.32% at the end of 8h. MECR (400mg/kg body weight for 30 days to diabetic rats) showed a significant decrease (p<0.01) of blood glucose level to 60.00% as compared to other groups. The treatment also resulted an improvement in body weights, decreased HbA1c and restored lipid profile. Histopathological injury was not observed, rather repair of beta cells was seen in extract treated diabetic rats. CONCLUSION Methanolic extract of C. reflexa has significant antidiabetic effects and improves metabolic alterations thereby justifying its traditional folkloric claims.

Proteolytic and Milk Clotting Activity of Fractionated Protein of Lagenaria siceraria

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate milk clotting activity as well as proteolytic activity of protein fractions of seeds of L. siceraria .Storage proteins were extracted by differential solubility, and their contents were estimated using the Bradford method. The effect of pH and temperature on the milk-clotting activity and proteolytic activity was also evaluated. L. siceraria showed highest milk clotting activity over a broad temperature range of 30-80 ÂoC and pH range of 3-9. These findings showed that have L. siceraria proteolytic activity which might be a potentially suitable substitute for commercial animal rennet for cheese-ripening.

Identification of bioactive constituents from different fractions of stems of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. using GC-MS

Abstract The GC-MS analysis of fractions of methanol extract of stem of Cuscuta reflexa (Family Convolvulaceae) was carried out using a THERMO TRACE 1300 Gas Chromatograph equipped and coupled to a mass detector THERMO TSQ 8000 spectrometer with an TG 5MS (30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm) of capillary column. Database of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library was used to identify the components. GC-MS revealed two known compounds i.e. 2-Methoxy-4-vinyl phenol (6.80%) and Benzofuran-2,3-dihydro (20.89%) and other 12 unknown compounds such as 3,5-di-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (35.50%); Hexatriacontane (12.02%); n-Hexadecanoic acid (10.12%); Scoparone (7.97%); Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (5.22%); 1,3-Benzenediamine, N, N, N′, N′ tetramethyl- (15.43%); Phenol, 4(3-hydroxy1propenyl), 2-methoxy (9.31%); Phenol, 2,4 bis (1,1dimethylethyl); 2,3,5,6-Tetramethyl para phenylene diamine (14.18%); Retinoic acid-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro (20.46%); 2,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)furan-3-one (10.13%); 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2-Propyl-tetrahydro-pyran-3-ol (10.13%); Pregn-4-ene-18-oic acid (5.75%) as some of the major compounds in its different fractions. Retinoic acid-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro found as major compound may be responsible for blood glucose lowering potency.

ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF ANNONA RETICULATA LEAF

ABSTRACT Context: Several species of the genus Annona were reported to have hypoglycemic properties and this makes Annona reticulata Linn. (Annonaceae) an interesting plant for investigating its anti-hyperglycemic potential. Objective: Different fractions prepared from hydro-alcoholic extract of A. reticulata leave were investigated for their blood glucose lowering effect on Streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycemic rats. Methods: Ethyl acetate, methanol, and residual fractions (at dose level of 100 mg/kg by oral route) prepared from the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. reticulata leave were administered for 14 consecutive days to STZ induced hyperglycemic rats for evaluation of their anti-hyperglycemic potential. Anti-hyperglycemic potential was assessed by observation of a decrease in fasting blood glucose level. Results: The studies revealed that ethyl acetate fraction decreased the blood glucose level of hyperglycemic rats from 447.67 to 234.17 mg/dL and is significant (p<0.001) when compared with diabetic control group. The residual fraction and methanolic fraction decreased blood glucose level from 417.83 to 402.50 mg/dL and 432.33 to 371.67 mg/dL respectively but not significant when compared with the diabetic control group. Standard drug metformin (dose 300 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose level from 447.33 to 219.50 mg/dL. Discussion: Ethyl acetate fraction at tested dose level was capable not only to control the elevated blood glucose level but also able to attenuate certain secondary parameters associated with STZ induced hyperglycemia. Conclusion: This study suggested that the ethyl acetate fraction prepared from hydro-alcoholic extract of A. reticulata leave exhibit potential antihyperglycemic property in the tested experimental models and should be investigated further. Keywords: Streptozotocin, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia.