title: Two new compounds from the aerial parts of Bergenia himalaica Boriss and their anti-hyperglycemic effect in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bergenia himalaica Boriss is mainly distributed in the temperate Himalayas between altitudes of 900 and 3000m ranging from the southeastern regions in central Asia and northern regions in South Asia. The plant has a long history of its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, urinary complaints, kidney stones, hemorrhagic diseases and epilepsy. The aim of this study is to isolate pure compounds from Bergenia himalaica Boriss, elucidate their structures and determine their blood glucose lowering activity to obtain additional scientific evidence for its usage in traditional medicine for the management of diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The crude methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Bergenia himalaica Boriss was separated into EtOAc and water sub-extracts and the EtOAc sub-extract was further divided into petroleum ether soluble and insoluble fractions. The pet-ether insoluble fraction was subjected to fractionation through column chromatography followed by prep. TLC. The blood glucose lowering activity of the 2 new compounds was evaluated in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Additionally, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was measured on isolated mice islets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two new compounds bergenicin and bergelin were isolated and their structures determined on the basis of spectral analysis. Significant decrease of blood glucose was observed at 1-h (1.0mg/kg) and 2-h (0.5mg/kg), after bergenicin administration to the diabetic rats and at 2-h (1.0mg/kg) and 3-h (0.5mg/kg), after bergelin administration. Bergenicin, but not bergelin, enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present studies two new compounds, bergenicin and bergelin were isolated from Bergenia himalaica Boriss and their structures were elucidated. Both the compounds showed anti-hyperglycemic effects in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Bergenicin showed insulinotropic effect; suggesting that the anti-hyperglycemic effect is mostly due to enhancement of insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address: siddiqui_bina@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bina S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mashooda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mairaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Iffat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mehmood
authors.affiliation: Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rahman Md
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hafizur
authors.affiliation: Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zabta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khan Shinwari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000633:toxicity; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D031995:Saxifragaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000633:toxicity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005663:Furans; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; C000593173:bergelin; C000593172:bergenicin; D009536:Niacinamide; D013311:Streptozocin
keywords: Anti-hyperglycemic; Bergelin; Bergenia himalaica Boriss; Bergenicin; Insulin secretion; Phytochemistry