Glucose lowering effect of aqueous extract of Enicostemma littorale Blume in diabetes: a possible mechanism of action.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Enicostemma littorale Blume is a small herb and recently we have reported its blood glucose lowering potential in alloxan induced diabetic rats. A single dose of aqueous extract of E. littorale (15 g dry plant equivalent extract per kg) had shown significant increase in the serum insulin levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats at 8 h. The insulinotropic action of aqueous extract of E. littorale was further investigated using rat pancreatic islets. Extract has the potential to enhance glucose-induced insulin release at 11.1 mM glucose from isolated rat pancreatic islets and was partially able to reverse the effect of diazoxide (0.25 mM). Incubation with Ca(2+) chelator (EGTA) and Ca(2+) channel blocker (nimodipine) did not affect the glucose-induced insulin release augmented by the extract. Above results suggest the glucose lowering effect of aqueous extract of E. littorale to be associated with potentiation of glucose-induced insulin release through K(+)-ATP channel dependent pathway but did not require Ca(2+) influx.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, M. S. University, Baroda Gujarat 390 002, India.
Jyoti
J
Maroo
Vihas T
VT
Vasu
Ravikumar
R
Aalinkeel
Sarita
S
Gupta
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D029965:Gentianaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002118:Calcium