Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2025
05:58
Mouse Electroacupuncture Fixation Device Fabrication for Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2025
267
Anacardium occidentale Bark as an Antidiabetic Agent
Sofia Encarnação1, Cristina De Mello-Sampayo1, Belmira Carrapiço2
1Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 14, 2022
Summary
A traditional herbal preparation from Anacardium occidentale bark (AoBTHP) effectively lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes models. This study validates its preclinical use, showing significant glucose reduction and identifying gallic acid as a key inhibitor.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Herbal Medicine
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
Background:
- Anacardium occidentale L. is globally recognized for its traditional use in managing type 2 diabetes.
- A specific herbal preparation from its stem bark (AoBTHP) has a 30-year history in Portugal for diabetes treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To standardize AoBTHP based on total phenolic content.
- To evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of AoBTHP in a preclinical in vivo model of type 2 diabetes.
- To identify potential mechanisms of action, including alpha- and beta-glucosidase inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Standardization of AoBTHP for total phenolic content.
- In vivo assessment of hypoglycemic activity in db/db mice over 92 days with three different doses.
- Measurement of fasting and non-fasting glycemia.
- Thin-layer chromatography bioautographic assays to detect glucosidase inhibitors.
Main Results:
- All three tested doses of AoBTHP demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects on fasting blood glucose levels.
- Higher doses (71.5 and 127.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced non-fasting glycemia.
- Gallic acid was identified as a primary alpha- and beta-glucosidase inhibitor within AoBTHP.
- The highest AoBTHP dose exhibited a superior glucose-lowering effect compared to glibenclamide.
Conclusions:
- Standardized AoBTHP shows significant preclinical efficacy for type 2 diabetes treatment.
- The hypoglycemic activity is likely attributed to alpha- and beta-glucosidase inhibitors like gallic acid, though other mechanisms may contribute.
- This study provides the first in vivo validation of a standardized AoBTHP for type 2 diabetes.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
238
α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are...
Acarbose and miglitol are...
238
01:06Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
226
Repaglinide (Prandin) and Nateglinide (Starlix), known as glinides, are oral insulin secretagogues that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β cells by closing the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channel). Repaglinide controls insulin release from pancreatic β cells by managing potassium efflux. It shares two binding sites with sulfonylureas and also has a unique site, indicating overlapping mechanisms of action. With a rapid onset and a 4-7 hour duration, it effectively...
226
01:17Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Sulfonylureas
290
Sulfonylureas are oral hypoglycemic agents utilized in treating type 2 diabetes. They are characterized by their unique sulfonylurea chemical structure. The family of sulfonylureas is divided into generations. First-generation sulfonylureas, including tolbutamide (Orinase), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), and tolazamide (Tolinase), trigger insulin release from pancreatic β cells and enhance peripheral tissues' insulin sensitivity. The second-generation members, such as glipizide...
290
01:26Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
267
Biguanides, particularly metformin (Glucophage), are insulin sensitizers that enhance glucose uptake, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin doesn't prompt insulin secretion, which helps to curb hypoglycemia risk. Metformin is beneficial in treating conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome due to its insulin-resistance reduction capability. The drug's primary action involves curtailing hepatic gluconeogenesis, a significant contributor to high blood...
267
01:24Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers
822
Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which...
822
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
337
The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
337