ABSTRACT
Momordica charantia (L.) (Cucurbitaceae) commonly known as bitter gourd or karela is a medicinal plant, used in Ayurveda for treating various diseases, one of which is diabetes mellitus. In this study, various extract powders of the fresh and dried whole fruits were prepared and their blood glucose lowering effect compared by administrating them orally to diabetic rats. The aqueous extract powder of fresh unripe whole fruits at a dose of 20mg/kg body weight was found to reduce fasting blood glucose by 48%, an effect comparable to that of glibenclamide, a known synthetic drug. This extract was tested for nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT and lipid profile. The extract did not show any signs of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity as judged by histological and biochemical parameters. Thus the aqueous extract powder of Momordica charantia, an edible vegetable, appears to be a safe alternative to reducing blood glucose.
Subject(s)
Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Momordica , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Alloxan/adverse effects , Animal Structures/chemistry , Animal Structures/drug effects , Animals , Blood Glucose/drug effects , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Body Weight/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/chemically induced , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/prevention & control , Disease Models, Animal , Drug Administration Schedule , Fruit , Glyburide/pharmacology , Glyburide/therapeutic use , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , India , Male , Medicine, Ayurvedic , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , SolventsABSTRACT
Four aqueous extracts from different parts of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda (an ancient Indian Medicine) viz., Momardica charantia Linn (AP1), Glycyrrhiza glabra (AP2), Acacia catechu (AP3), and Terminalia chebula (AP4) were examined for their potential as antioxidants. The antioxidant activity of these extracts was tested by studying the inhibition of radiation induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes at different doses in the range of 100-600 Gy as estimated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Of all these extracts, AP4 showed maximum inhibition in the TBARS formation and hence is considered the best antioxidant among these four extracts. The extracts were found to restore antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) from the radiation induced damage. The antioxidant capacities were also evaluated in terms of ascorbate equivalents by different methods such as cyclic voltammetry, decay of ABTS(.-) radical by pulse radiolysis and decrease in the absorbance of DPPH radicals. The results were found to be in agreement with the lipid peroxidation data and AP4 showed maximum value of ascorbate equivalents. Therefore AP4, with high antioxidant activity, is considered as the best among these four extracts.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/analysis , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Medicine, Ayurvedic , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Animals , Ascorbic Acid/chemistry , Biphenyl Compounds , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Electrochemistry/methods , Free Radicals/chemistry , Free Radicals/metabolism , Gamma Rays , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Kinetics , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Lipid Peroxidation/radiation effects , Microsomes, Liver/drug effects , Microsomes, Liver/radiation effects , Mitochondria, Liver/drug effects , Mitochondria, Liver/radiation effects , Picrates/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Pulse Radiolysis/methods , Rats , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/analysis , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolismABSTRACT
Phytoestrogens represent a family of plant compounds such as isoflavones, flavones and lignans. A variety of these plant compounds have been identified in various human body fluids. A wide range of commonly consumed foods contains appreciable amounts of these different phytoestrogens, viz. soy products are particularly good sources of isoflavones and lignans. Accumulating evidences from molecular and cellular biology experiments, animal studies, and to a limited extent, human clinical trials suggests that phytoestrogens may potentially confer health benefits related to various cancers and diseases such as cardiovascular disorder. The evidences reviewed here represent the beneficial effects of most potential and promising isoflavone, Genistein in various types of cancers.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Genistein/pharmacology , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification , Genistein/isolation & purification , Humans , Glycine max/chemistryABSTRACT
Phytoestrogens represent a family of plant compounds such as isoflavones, flavones and lignans. A wide range of commonly consumed foods contains appreciable amounts of different phytoestrogens such as isoflavones and lignans. Soy and its products are particularly good sources of isoflavones and lignans. The evidence reviewed here represents the beneficial effects of most potential and promising isoflavone, Genistein in various types of diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, menopausal symptoms by accumulating evidence from molecular and cellular biology experiments, animal studies, and, to a limited extent, human clinical trials. This review suggests that phytoestrogens may potentially confer health benefits related to various diseases such as cardiovascular disorder, menopausal symptoms, and osteoporosis.