title: Hypoglycemic activity of inorganic constituents in Eugenia jambolana seed on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.
abstract: Medicinal herbs used in indigenous medicines for the management of diabetes mellitus contain both organic and inorganic constituents. Some of these inorganic trace elements possess antidiabetic properties, which accounts for the activity of medicinal herbs. The aim of this study was to analyze the inorganic trace elements present in Eugenia jambolana seeds and to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of the inorganic part of E. jambolana seeds on streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The seeds of E. jambolana seeds were reduced to ash and the inorganic elements present were assayed. The hypoglycemic efficacy of the inorganic part was tested by the glucose tolerance test on streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Elements such as zinc, chromium, vanadium, potassium, and sodium, possessing hypoglycemic activity, were present in the seed. The E. jambolana seed ash-treated diabetic rats exhibited normoglycemia and better glucose tolerance. The conclusion that the inorganic constituents might play a important role in the antidiabetic nature E. jambolana seeds was reached.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.forename: D Sathish
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sekar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramanian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013311:Streptozocin; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014131:Trace Elements; D013311:Streptozocin; D014508:Urea