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Hypoglycemic activity of some antidiabetic plants
R Román Ramos1, A Lara Lemus, F Alarcón Aguilar
1Health Science Department, Biological and Health Sciences Division, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Iztapalapa Campus, Mexico, D.F.
Archives of Medical Research
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Mexican plants like Cucurbita ficifolia showed hypoglycemic activity in healthy and mildly diabetic rabbits, suggesting a need for pancreatic function or insulin for their antidiabetic effects.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Ethnobotany
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Traditional Mexican medicine utilizes several plants for managing diabetes.
- Understanding the scientific basis of these traditional remedies is crucial for developing new antidiabetic therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypoglycemic mechanism of four empirically used Mexican antidiabetic plants: Cucurbita ficifolia, Guaiacum coulteri, Lepechinia caulescens, and Psacalium peltatum.
- To determine if pancreatic function or insulin is necessary for the observed hypoglycemic effects.
Main Methods:
- The study involved administering plant preparations, water, tolbutamide, and Regular Insulin to three groups of rabbits: healthy, moderately diabetic (alloxan-induced), and severely diabetic (alloxan-induced).
- Blood glucose levels were monitored after induced hyperglycemia or in fasting diabetic states.
Main Results:
- Plant preparations demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect comparable to tolbutamide in healthy and moderately diabetic rabbits.
- No significant hypoglycemic effect was observed in severely diabetic rabbits treated with the plant preparations.
- These findings indicate that the hypoglycemic activity of these plants is dependent on the presence of functioning pancreatic beta cells or insulin.
Conclusions:
- The hypoglycemic activity of Cucurbita ficifolia, Guaiacum coulteri, Lepechinia caulescens, and Psacalium peltatum is contingent upon pancreatic function or the availability of insulin.
- These plants may act as adjuncts to insulin therapy or in conditions with residual pancreatic function, rather than as standalone treatments for severe diabetes.