Sanjukta Chatterji

Role of Moringa oleifera in regulation of diabetes-induced oxidative stress

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) young leaves by in vivo as well as in vitro assays. METHODS In vitro study included estimation of total phenolic, total flavonol, total flavonoid and total antioxidant power (FRAP assay). In addition, in vivo study was done with the identified most effective dose of 200 mg/kg of its lyophilized powder on normal and diabetic rats. Its effect on different oxidative free radical scavenging enzymes,viz, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid peroxide (LPO) contents were measured. RESULTS Significant increase in activities of SOD, CAT, GST while, a decrease in LPO content was observed. Whereas, total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol contents in the extract were found to be 120 mg/g of GAE, 40.5 mg/g of QE and 12.12 mg/g of QE, respectively. On the other hand, FRAP assay results of M. oleifera leaves was (85.00 ± 5.00) μM/g of extract powder. CONCLUSIONS The significant antioxidant activities of M. oleifera leaves from both in vivo as well as in vitro studies suggests that the regular intake of its leaves through diet can protect normal as well as diabetic patients against oxidative damage.

Antidiabetic effect of Raphanus sativus root juice

Context: Many plants have been explored scientifically and systematically and claimed to be useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus by various research groups worldwide. The present study is a further effort in the direction of developing a novel oral antidiabetic agent of high potential with minimal or no side effects. Objective: This study screened the glycemic attributes of Raphanus sativus L. (Brassicaceae) root juice in normal as well as sub- and mild-diabetic models. Materials and methods: The variable doses of 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg kg−1 body weight (bw) of the extract were administered orally to normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced sub- and mild-diabetic rats in order to define its glycemic potential. Glibenclamide was used as a reference drug. Results: The dose of 300 mg kg−1bw was identified as the most effective dose which lowers the blood glucose level (BGL) by 33.4% (p < 0.001) at 6 h during fasting blood glucose (FBG) studies in normal rats. However, the glucose tolerance test (GTT) revealed the maximum reduction of 15.9% (p < 0.001) in BGL at 3 h in normal rats with the same dose, whereas the reduction observed was by 23.8 and 28.3% (p < 0.001) in sub- and mild-diabetic rats, respectively, at the same interval of time. Discussion and conclusion: This evidence clearly indicates that Raphanus sativus root juice possesses good hypoglycemic potential coupled with antidiabetic efficacy.

LIBS Based Screening of Glycemic Elements of Ficus religiosa

The effectiveness of various trace element concentrations in medicinal plants in the cure of various diseases can be determined by their quantitative estimation. Elemental concentrations of aqueous extract of F. religiosa leaves were measured by Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS is a very powerful and efficient analytical tool for determining elemental constitution. The present study deals with the LIBS-based validation of elements responsible for the glycemic potential of aqueous extract of F. religiosa leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic models. The significant decrease in blood glucose level and marked improvement in glucose tolerance test of diabetic models is correlated to the concentration of elements present in the extract as revealed by LIBS spectra. Elements such as Mg and Ca have been observed in the LIBS spectra of F. religiosa.

α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity assessment of Cucurbita maxima seeds – a LIBS based study

The aim of the present study was to investigate, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the aqueous extract of Cucurbita maxima seeds in vitro and to correlate their activity with their phytoelemental profile quantitatively assessed by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Diabetes can be managed by controlling postprandial hyperglycemia which can be achieved by inhibiting carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Results reveal that the C. maxima seeds have appreciable α-amylase inhibitory activity of 46.03±1.37% with IC 50 value at 7.00±0.29 mg ml -1 in addition to substantial α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of 35.11±1.04% with IC 50 at 8.11±0.36 mg ml -1 . Acarbose was used as a reference. LIBS analysis showed the presence of certain phytoelements viz. Mg, Ca, K and Na which are well known glycemic elements and hence could be responsible for inhibitory activity of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes.Thus, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory action of C. maxima seeds would be responsible for their antidiabetic activity. The glycemic elemental profile further validates their role in controlling diabetes and hence C. maxima seeds could be explored as a potential herbal candidate for managing postprandial hyperglycemia causing type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Evidence based study of antidiabetic potential of C. maxima seeds – In vivo

Objective In vitro antidiabetic efficacy of Cucurbita maxima seed extract (CMSE) has already been studied in our previous findings. Thus, in order to validate these findings in biological system, in vivo antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract was investigated in normal as well as diabetic experimental models. Methods Variable doses of extract were administered orally to normal and STZ induced mild diabetic rats during fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) studies. In order to determine the extracts antidiabetic potential long-term FBG and post prandial glucose (PPG) studies were also carried out. Results Most effective dose of 200 mg kg−1 of CMSE decreases the blood glucose level (BGL) in normal rats by 29.02% at 6 h during FBG studies and 23.23% at 3 h during GTT. However, the maximum reduction observed in BGL of mild diabetic rats during GTT the same interval of time was 26.15%. Moreover, in case of severely diabetic rats a significant reduction of 39.33% was observed in FBG levels whereas, in case of positive control, rats treated with 2.5 mg kg−1 of glipizide, a fall of 42.9% in FBG levels was observed after 28 days. Results of PPG level also showed a fall of 33.20% in severely diabetic rats as compared to the positive control showing a fall of 44.2% at the end of the 28 days. Conclusion Thus, the present study validate the hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effect of CMSE and hence this extract could be explored further for developing as a novel antidiabetic agent.