Hypoglycemic effects of Cecropia pachystachya in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
BACKGROUND
Leaves of Cecropia pachystachya are described in the folk medicine as possessing antitusive, expectorant, antiasthmatic and hypoglycemic effects.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract from the leaves of Cecropia pachystachya. The total amount of phenolic and flavonoids compounds was determined and the qualitative composition of the extract was analyzed.


METHODS
The hypoglycemic effect of the extract was tested in normal, glucose loading and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging and reduction power assays. The total amount of phenolic and flavonoids compounds was determined by Folin-Denis and AlCl(3) reagent method, respectively. The qualitative composition of the extract was analyzed using a HPLC-DAD system.


RESULTS
The glucose tolerance test showed that in diabetic rats, the extract caused a significant hypoglycemic effect with a blood glucose reduction of 68% after 12h. The administration of the extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats also produced a significant reduction in the blood glucose levels at all points being more pronounced at 90min (reduction of 60%). After 120min, no significant difference was observed between the blood levels of the rats treated with the extract and those treated with the standard drugs (metformin and glibenclamide). The extract also presented relevant antioxidant activity with IC50=3.1microg/ml (DPPH assay) and EC50=10.8microg/ml (reduction power). Results were compared with the reference antioxidants quercetin, rutin, and ascorbic acid. The content of flavonoids was 83mg/g plant and that of phenolics was 326mg/g plant. Chlorogenic acid and the C-glycosylated flavones, orientin and isoorientin, were identified in the extract.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the findings showed that the folk medicinal plant Cecropia pachystachya possesses hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects which confirmed the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of diabetes. Chlorogenic acid and the C-glycosylated flavonoids may explain these activities.
Aragão
Danielle M O
DM
Departamento de Bioquímica - ICB - Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Martelos, CEP 36036 900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
Guarize
Lyvia
L
Lanini
Juliana
J
da Costa
Juliana C
JC
Garcia
Raúl M G
RM
Scio
Elita
E
D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D035702:Cecropia Plant; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D005960:Glucosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005905:Glyburide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005960:Glucosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C011471:folin; D000496:Alloxan; D008687:Metformin; C065886:orientin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D005905:Glyburide