title: Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) as a potential anti-diabetic drug.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaves of Hancornia speciosa Gomes are traditionally used to treat diabetes in Brazil. The aim of the study is to evaluate the potential anti-diabetic effect of Hancornia speciosa extract and derived fractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethanolic extract from Hancornia speciosa leaves and chromatographic fractions thereof were evaluated on α-glucosidase assay, on hyperglycemic effect and glucose uptake. The chemical composition of the extract and its most active fraction was investigated by ESI-LC-MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethanolic extract and derived fractions inhibited α-glucosidase in vitro. However, only the crude extract and the dichloromethane fraction inhibited the hyperglycemic effect induced by starch or glucose. Both the extract and dichloromethane fraction were also able to increase glucose uptake in adipocytes. Bornesitol, quinic acid, and chorogenic acid were identified in the extract, along with flavonoid glycosides, whereas the dichloromethane fraction is majorly composed by esters of lupeol and/or α/β-amirin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hancornia speciosa has a potential anti-diabetic effect through a mechanism dependent on inhibition of α-glucosidase and increase on glucose uptake. These results give support to the use on traditional medicine of this medicinal plant.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fitoquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Bárbara D
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Metabolismo Celular, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, ICB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina C L
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Metabolismo Celular, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, ICB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leida M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Botion
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fisiologia Cardiovascular, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virgínia S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fitoquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernão C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Brazil. Electronic address: sfcortes@icb.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Steyner F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cortes
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D029062:Apocynaceae; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification; D054812:Cyclitols / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011801:Quinic Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054812:Cyclitols; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; C546633:L-bornesitol; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011801:Quinic Acid; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Anti-hyperglycemic; Diabetes; Glucose uptake; Hancornia speciosa; α-glucosidase