title: Evaluation of the acute antihyperglycemic effects of four selected indigenous plants from Jordan used in traditional medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eryngium creticum Lam. (Umbelliferae), Geranium graveolens L.Her.exn Ait (Geraniaceae), Paronychia argentea Lam. (Caryophyllaceae), and Varthemia iphionoides Boiss (Compositae) have traditionally been used as antidiabetic phytomedicines. However, their alleged benefits and mechanisms remain elusive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of these plants on in vitro and in vivo enzymatic starch digestion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro enzymatic starch digestion with acarbose or (1-50 or 100 mg/ml) plants aqueous extracts was assayed using α-amylase and α-amyloglucosidase. Oral starch tolerance tests and oral glucose tolerance tests were determined for the plant extracts at concentrations 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight. Blood glucose levels in rats treated with plant extracts or drugs (acarbose or metformin and glipizide) were measured at -30, 0, 45, 90, and 135 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro, acarbose, and water extracts of G. graveolens and V. iphionoides exerted significant dose-dependent dual inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with respective IC₅₀s of 1.2 μg/ml, 84.7, and 65.2 mg/ml. Comparable in vivo acute postprandial antihyperglycemic efficacies were obtained for G. graveolens and V. iphionoides in starch-fed rats. E. creticum exhibited substantial acute antihyperglycemic activities in starch-treated rats, despite lacking any favorable in vitro effectiveness. However, P. argentea lacked any inhibitory efficacy. None of the plant extracts qualified for improving the glucose tolerance in fasted rats on glucose loading.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  G. graveolens and V. iphionoides can be considered as potential candidates for therapeutic modulation of impaired fasting glycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Queen Rania Street,11942 Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Violet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kasabri
authors.forename: Fatma U
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamdan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007597:Jordan; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004798:Enzymes; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013213:Starch