@article {290, title = {Evaluation of Protective Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cassia fistula Linn. Pod on Pancreas in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {April 2018}, pages = {212}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {205}, abstract = {

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with oxidative stress. Medicinal plants and herbs are the rich sources of antioxidants which ameliorate oxidative stress-induced diabetic complications and could play an important role in the management of diabetes. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of 70\% ethanolic extract of Cassia fistula pod on pancreas in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg b.wt.). The diabetic rats were administered orally with C. fistula pod extract at three different doses (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg b.wt./day) for 60 days. The results were compared with standard drug glibenclamide (5 mg/kg b.wt./ day) treated rats. Relative pancreatic weight and serum insulin level were determined. Histopathological changes and oxidative stress parameters, i.e., lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TBARS]) and antioxidative defense markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and ascorbic acid), in the pancreas were investigated. Results: Oral administration of C. fistula pod extract (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg b.wt./day) or glibenclamide in diabetic rats significantly improved serum insulin level, total protein concentration, relative pancreatic weight, and mean diameter of islets of Langerhans as compared to diabetic control rats. Furthermore, treatment with extract also reduced TBARS levels and improved the levels of antioxidant markers in the pancreas. The histomorphological picture of the pancreas showed marked restoration of islets morphology. These results were comparable with glibenclamide. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that C. fistula pod extract possesses significant antidiabetic activity though enhanced insulin secretion, improvement of antioxidative status of pancreas, and preservation of the integrity of pancreatic islets.

}, keywords = {Antioxidants, Cassia fistula, Insulin, Pancreas, Streptozotocin}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_95_17}, author = {Ram Niwas Jangir and Gyan Chand Jain} } @article {557, title = {Improvement of Insulin Secretion and Pancreatic β-cell Function in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Aloe vera Extract}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {December 2017}, pages = {s99-s104}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {s99}, abstract = {

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Plant extracts and their products are being used as an alternative system of medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Aloe vera has been traditionally used to treat several diseases and it exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing effects. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Wistar diabetic rats were used in this study to understand the potential protective effect of A. vera extract on the pancreatic islets. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the A. vera extract on improvement of insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function by morphometric analysis of pancreatic islets in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: After acclimatization, male Wistar rats, maintained as per the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals guidelines, were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were assessed. The effect of A. vera extract in STZ-induced diabetic rats on the pancreatic islets by morphometric analysis was evaluated. Results: Oral administration of A. vera extract (300 mg/kg) daily to diabetic rats for 3 weeks showed restoration of blood glucose levels to normal levels with a concomitant increase in insulin levels upon feeding with A. vera extract in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Morphometric analysis of pancreatic sections revealed quantitative and qualitative gain in terms of number, diameter, volume, and area of the pancreatic islets of diabetic rats treated with A. vera extract when compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Conclusion: A. vera extract exerts antidiabetic effects by improving insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function by restoring pancreatic islet mass in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

}, keywords = {Aloe vera, Diabetes, Insulin, Morphometric analysis, Pancreas, Streptozotocin}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_75_17}, author = {Ayesha Noor and S Gunasekaran and MA Vijayalakshmi} } @article {817, title = {Amelioration of Insulin Resistance by Rk 1 + Rg 5 Complex Under Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Conditions}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {August,2014}, pages = {292-296}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {292}, abstract = {

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic syndrome exaggerated by stress conditions. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) impairs the insulin signaling pathway making the diabetic conditions worsen. Pharmacological agents are supplied externally to overcome this malfunction. Ginsenosides from Panax ginseng C.A Meyer possesses many pharmacological properties and are used for the treatment of diabetes. Objective: To investigate the effects of the Rk 1 +Rg 5 complex on the amelioration of insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 cells under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions. Materials and Methods: Heat-processed ginseng extracts are found to contain many pharmacologically active ginsenosides. Among them Rk 1 +Rg 5 is found to be present in higher concentrations than the other minor ginsenosides. The Rk 1 +Rg 5 complex was tested for its effect in the 3T3-L1 insulin-resistant model and subjected to the MTT assay, glucose oxidase assay and gene expression studies using RT-PCR and real-time PCR under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions. Results: Rk 1 +Rg 5 treatment is found to increase the glucose uptake into the cells when compared to that of a positive control (tunicamycin treatment group, TM). Further we have analyzed the role at gene expression level. The Rk 1 +Rg 5 complex was found to show an effect on the IGF 2R receptor, CHOP-10, and C/EBP gene at a particular treated concentration (50 μM). Moreover, stress condition (about 50\% decreases) was overcome by the ginsenoside treatments at 50 μM. Conclusion: The present results showed that under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions Rk 1 +Rg 5 complex exhibits a potential protective role in insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 cells.

}, keywords = {3T3-L1, Dexamethasone, Diabetes, Ginsenosides, Insulin, Insulin resistance}, doi = { 10.4103/0974-8490.138257}, author = {Shree Priya Ponnuraj and Fayeza Siraj, Sera Kang and Hae Yong Noh, Jin-Woo Min and Yeon-Ju Kim and Deok-Chun Yang} } @article {680, title = {Effect of Butea Monosperma Lam. Leaves and Bark Extracts on Blood Glucose in Streptozotocin-induced Severely Diabetic Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {4}, year = {2012}, month = {december,2011}, pages = {33-36}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {33}, abstract = {

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that has significant impact on the health, quality of life and life expectancy, as well as on the health care system. Butea monosperma Lam. Kuntze (Fabaceae), commonly known as palash, is widely used in the treatment of various diseases and disorders including diabetes. Materials and Methods: The present study was planned to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of aqueous extracts of B. monosperma leaves and bark in streptozotocin-induced severely diabetic rats. The animals were divided into four groups, with each consisting of six rats, viz. control, diabetic control, leaf extract-treated and bark extract-treated groups. Treatment was continued for 6 weeks. The biochemical estimations included blood glucose and serum insulin levels. Histopathology of pancreas was also performed. Results: The results indicated that both leaf and bark extracts of B. monosperma produced insignificant antihyperglycemic activity. The leaf and bark extracts reduced blood glucose to an extent of 28\% and 11\%, respectively. It was also evidenced that both leaf and bark extracts did not increase insulin synthesis or secretion and did not improve pancreatic architecture as reflected by the histopathologic studies. Conclusions: The findings of the study emphasize that B. monosperma does not possess significant antidiabetic activity in severe experimental diabetes at the dosage tested.

}, keywords = {Butea monosperma, Diabetes, Insulin, Pancreas, Streptozotocin}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.91032}, author = {Faiyaz Ahmed and NS Siddaraju and M Harish, Asna Urooj and Asna Urooj} } @article {788, title = {Antihyperglycemic effect of the alcoholic seed extract of Swietenia macrophylla on streptozotocin-diabetic rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {3}, year = {2011}, month = {April 2011}, pages = {67-71}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {67}, abstract = {

Background:\ Streptozotocin (STZ) selectively destroys the pancreatic insulin secreting cells, leaving less active cells and resulting in a diabetic state. The present study was designed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of the ethanolic seed extract of\ Swietenia macrophylla\ (SME) in normal and STZ-diabetic rats.\ Materials and Methods:\ The experimental groups were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight [BW]). Rats with glucose levels \> 200 mg/dL were considered diabetic and were divided into 5 groups. Three groups of diabetic animals were orally administered, daily with seed extract at a dosage of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg BW. One group of STZ rats was treated as diabetic control and the other group was orally administered 600 ΅g/kg BW glibenclamide daily.\ Results:\ Graded doses of seed extract and glibenclamide showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and improvement in serum insulin levels. The extract also improved body weight and promoted liver glycogen content. After treatment, hemoglobin (Hb) level increased and glycosylated Hb level significantly decreased in diabetic rats. The activities of the carbohydrate metabolic enzymes showed significant changes in the rats. Of the 3 doses, 100 mg dose showed maximum activity. Histological investigations of pancreas also supported the biochemical findings.\ Conclusions:\ Thus, our findings indicate the folklore use of the seed for diabetes and the mechanism seems to be insulin secretion.

}, keywords = {Glucose, Insulin, strepotozotocin, Swietenia macrophylla}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.79119}, author = {Kalpana Kalaivanan and Kodukkur Viswanathan Pugalendi} }