title: Chemistry and pharmacology of an ethanol extract of Bumelia sartorum.
abstract: Bumelia sartorum has been mentioned in Brazilian folklore for its reputed use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and inflammatory disorders. An ethanol extract of root bark elicited a hypoglycemic effect in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In addition, the extract altered glucose tolerance in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and significantly inhibited glycogenolysis in the liver. These results indicate that the hypoglycemic effect may be similar to chlorpropamide and possibly due to an enhanced secretion of insulin from the islets of Langerhans or an increased utilization of glucose by peripheral tissues. Besides hypoglycemic activity, the ethanol extract also elicited significant anti-inflammatory activity, but did not show any significant effects on blood pressure, respiration or on the various isolated tissue preparations studied. Basic acid has been isolated from the ethanol extract and this component may be responsible for the observed anti-inflammatory activity. However, it is yet to be established whether basic acid is responsible for the observed hypoglycemic activity of the ethanol extract.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000032:analysis*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D006003:Glycogen