title: Seeds of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels: potential for islet regeneration in experimental diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study deals with the islet-regenerative potential of purified fraction of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels seeds (SC2) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetes was induced in Swiss mice by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (120 mg/kg). The treatment group mice were treated by administering oral dose of isolated SC2 fraction of S.cumini (2 g/L) for 21 d. Blood glucose level and body weight measurements were conducted regularly during the 21 d. On the 20th day of the experiment, oral glucose tolerance test was performed on overnight fasted mice. Experimental mice were sacrificed at the end of the treatment and tissues were separated. The liver glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity and contents of hepatic and muscle glycogens were measured; levels of plasma insulin and C-peptide were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SC2-treated mice showed sustained reversal in experimental diabetes as evidenced by restoration of normoglycemia, increases in G6PD and hepatic and muscle glycogens along with increases in plasma insulin and C-peptide levels. The occurrence of neo-islets in histological studies suggested regenerative property of SC2. These neo-islets were found to be producing insulin in in vivo STZ-induced diabetic mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings substantiate the action of SC2 fraction isolated from S.cumini seeds in islet regeneration and insulin secretion. Such regenerative approaches, in combination with other therapeutic strategies may provide a better means for the control and management of diabetes in the future.
authors.affiliation: Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India.
authors.forename: Menakshi Bhat
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dusane
authors.forename: Bimba N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012038:Regeneration; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006003:Glycogen; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase