title: Hypoglycaemic activity of Bixa orellana extract in the dog.
abstract: In West Indian folklore, a variety of plants are used for medicinal purposes. One such plant, Bixa orellana (annatto), is commonly used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Preliminary studies have shown that a crude annatto seed extract exhibited either glucose lowering or hyperglycaemia-inducing activity depending on how it was further manipulated. This present investigation sought to determine the effects of the glucose-lowering extract on C-peptide and streptozotocin-induced diabetic dogs. This annatto extract was found to decrease blood glucose levels in fasting normoglycaemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic dogs. In addition, in normal dogs, it suppressed the postprandial rise in blood glucose after an oral glucose load. Interestingly, the extract also caused an increase in insulin-to-glucose ratio in normal dogs. Increased insulin levels were not due to increased insulin synthesis as after 1-h residence time and half-hour postprandial, decreased C-peptide levels was observed. It was concluded that Bixa orellana (annatto) lowered blood glucose by stimulating peripheral utilization of glucose, and it is possible that this glucose-lowering extract might be of pharmacological importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.
authors.forename: K R M
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Omoruyi
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Pascoe
authors.forename: E Y St A
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031212:Bixaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D013311:Streptozocin; D013997:Time Factors; D014900:West Indies
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002338:Carotenoids; D013311:Streptozocin; C054041:annatto