Bioactivity studies and chemical profile of the antidiabetic plant Genista tenera.
OBJECTIVE
Genista tenera is a plant endemic to the island of Madeira and is used in folk medicine to control diabetes. In the present work we evaluate the antihyperglycaemic activity of its n-butanol extract and determine its chromatographic profile. In addition, this extract, the ethyl acetate and diethyl ether plant extracts were studied in order to assess the plant antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, as well as its cyto- and genotoxicities.


METHODS
HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS was used to analyze the flavonoid profile of the n-butanol extract. The antihyperglycaemic activity of this extract was performed over streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats (200 mg/kg, bw/day), for 15 days. Antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect (Ellman method) were also performed. Acute cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were assessed by proliferative index quantification and the short-term chromosomal aberration technique, after exposure of lymphocytes to the extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
The n-butanol extract, where 21 monoglycosyl and 12 diglycosyl flavonoids were detected, significantly lowered blood glucose levels, bringing them to normal values after 15 days of treatment. The best radical scavenging activity was observed for the ethyl acetate extract (48.7% at 139.1 microg/mL), which was also the most effective one at the minimal concentration tested. The highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (77.0% at 70.0 microg/mL) was also obtained with the ethyl acetate extract. In vitro toxicity studies showed no evidence for acute cytotoxicity or genotoxicity. This is the first report on antidiabetic activity of genus Genista.
Rauter
Amélia P
AP
Departamento de Química e Bioquímica/Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Ed. C8, 5 degrees piso, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal. aprauter@fc.ul.pt
Martins
Alice
A
Lopes
Rui
R
Ferreira
Joana
J
Serralheiro
Luísa M
LM
Araújo
Maria-Eduarda
ME
Borges
Carlos
C
Justino
Jorge
J
Silva
Filipa V
FV
Goulart
Margarida
M
Thomas-Oates
Jane
J
Rodrigues
João A
JA
Edwards
Emma
E
Noronha
João P
JP
Pinto
Rui
R
Mota-Filipe
Hélder
H
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D039761:Genista; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts