title: Hypoglycaemic effect of mollic acid glucoside, a 1alpha-hydroxycycloartenoid saponin extractive from Combretum molle R. Br. ex G. Don (Combretaceae) leaf, in rodents.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic properties of mollic acid glucoside (MAG), a 1alpha-hydroxycycloartenoid extractive from Combretum molle leaf, in rodents. Stepwise, escalated doses of MAG (5-80 mg/kg p.o.) produced dose-dependent and significant (P < 0.05-0.01) hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic effects in normal (normoglycaemic) and streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Experimental evidence obtained from this laboratory animal study indicates that MAG, an extractive from C. molle leaf, possesses hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic properties. These findings lend pharmacological credence to the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of the plant's leaf in the management and/or control of diabetes mellitus in some rural communities of southern Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa. ojewolej@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: John A O
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ojewole
authors.forename: Stephen O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Adewole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029765:Combretum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; C539782:mollic acid glucoside; D013311:Streptozocin