Efficacy of Cyanotis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult. &Schult. f. root tubers' active fraction as anti-diabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cyanotis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schult. &Schult.f. is traditionally used as ethnomedicine for curing several ailments like diabetes, liver problems, ulcers, etc. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of Cyanotis tuberosa root tubers (CTRT)in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-hyperglycemic activity of hexane extract of CTRT was investigated in diabetic rats. Silica gel chromatography was used to fractionate the hexane extract and the fraction's antihyperglycemic activity was checked in diabetic rats. Effects of long-term (30 days) treatment with an active fraction (CTAF) were evaluated in diabetic rats for 30 days by measurement of body weights, glycemic control, insulin levels, HbA1c, and serum and tissue lipid profiles. Lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant status were measured in the liver and kidney. Hepatic and Renal functional markers were also measured. Phytochemical characterization of CTAF was carried out by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. RESULTS: Hexane extract of CTRT at a dose of 750 mg/kg b.w produced significant antihyperglycemic activity in diabetic rats whereas CTAF has produced maximum antihyperglycemic activity at the dose of 75 mg/kg b.w. Following long-term treatment with CTAF in diabetic rats, significant improvement in glycemic control, (HbA1c) along with decreased insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), increase in body weights, and plasma insulin were observed. Also, CTAF ameliorated the serum and tissue lipid profiles. In addition, CTAF suppressed lipid peroxidation and restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney to normal levels. Further, CTAF reversed the liver and kidney functional markers to normalcy. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of 7 different phytoconstituents. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that CTAF exerts antidiabetic effects in diabetic rats by improving insulin secretion, glycemic control, and restoring functional activities of the liver and kidney. Our results suggest that root tubers of Cyanotis tuberosa can be used as a complementary or alternative agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Antidiabetic activity of root tubers of Asparagus gonoclados Baker in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Asparagus gonoclados Baker is a traditional folk remedy used for diabetes, diuretic, galactogogue, gastric ulcer activities etc. AIM: The present investigation was intended to evaluate the beneficial effect of the A.gonoclados (Lilliaceae) root tubers against diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different solvent extracts of root tubers of A. gonoclados were used to study the antihyperglycemic activity in streptozotocin (45 mg/kg.wt) induced diabetic rats. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in diabetic and normal rats treated with A.gonoclados. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavanoid content (TFC) and total steroidal saponins content (TSSC) were measured in different solvent extracts. Following bioassay guided fractionation method antihyperglycemic active fraction of A. gonoclados (AGAF) was isolated from the ethanol extract (AGEE) by silica gel column chromatography. We further tested relationship between insulin stimulation effect and the influence of active fraction on K+-ATP and Ca2+ channels opening in normal and diabetic rats. The characterization of AGAF was carried out by LC-ESI-MS/MS. RESULTS: Among the different solvent extracts, the ethanol extract (AGEE) at a dose of 500 mg/kg b.wt has produced maximum (67%) reduction in fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) in diabetic treated rats after 6 h of oral administration when compared to the standard drug glibenclamide (40%). AGEE also showed dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the activities of α-glucosidase (74.73%) and α-amylase (76.47%), which is comparable to the activity of standard drug acarbose (88.42%). AGEE was found to have the richest quantity of TPCs (138.4 ±â€¯0.39 µg/mg gallic acid equivalents), TFCs (64.8 ±â€¯0.54 µg/mg quercetin equivalents) and TSSCs (12.9 ±â€¯0.11µg/mg sarasapogenin equivalents). We identified 8 potential antihyperglycemic compounds in AGAF by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. CONCLUSION: From our current study we confirm that A. gonoclados root tubers have potent antihyperglycemic activity and it can be a unique drug/formulation for the management of diabetes mellitus.