title: Postprandial Antihyperglycemic And Antioxidant Activities ofAcalypha indicaLinn Stem Extract: AnIn-vivoStudy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  α-glucosidase inhibitors controls postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) by lowering sharp rise in blood glucose levels after ingestion of carbohydrate rich meal in type 2 diabetic (T2D) individuals.Acalypha indicacommonly known as Indian copper leaf is used in traditional medicinal system to treat various diseases. In our previousin-vitroinvestigation, methanolic extract ofA. indicastems (AIS) proved to be an effective a-glucosidase inhibitor, antioxidant, and well tolerated in acute and subchronic toxicity studies in albino wistar rats.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this perspective, this study was designed to evaluate postprandial antihyperglycemic potential of AIS in maltose, sucrose, and glucose loaded streptozotocin (STZ)-induced normal and diabetic rats. As, the acute hyperglycemia at postprandial period has more triggering effect on oxidative stress, study was also aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of AIS on STZ-induced Albino-Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were treated with AIS (300-600 mg/kg b.w.) to investigate effect of AIS in controling PPHG after carbohydrate loading. Hepatoprotective activity of AIS is evaluated in diabetic rats by treating them at the dosages 300-600 mg/kg b.w.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies revealed 69.10 and 80.35% blood glucose-lowering effect of AIS in maltose and sucrose loaded diabetic rats in comparison with the diabetic control group. AIS recovered the liver damage caused by streptozotocin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirmed high potential of AIS in controling PPHG by inhibiting a-glucosidase enzyme in maltose and sucrose loaded diabetic rats. AIS also exhibited hepatoprotective activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Thus, AIS could be used as a nutraceutical supplement to treat T2D effectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIS extract is effective in suppressing maltose and sucrose-induced postprandial hyperglycemic spikes in ratsAIS treat ment showed a 69.10 and80.35% blood glucose-lowering effect in maltose and sucrose loaded diabetic rats in comparison with the diabetic control group.AIS also improved the antioxidant status in diabetic rats and also has recovered the liver damage caused by streptozotocin.The α-glucosidase inhibitor isolated from AIS is a good supplement to control postprandial blood glucose level in the management of type 2 diabetes.Abbreviations used:AIS:Acalypha indicaStems, ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase, b/w: Body Weight, PPHG: Postprandial hyperglycemia, SE: Standard Error, SGOT: Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, SGPT: Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, SOD: Superoxide dismutase, STZ: Streptozotocin, TB: Total Bilirubin, T2D: Type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Microbiology Research Laboratory, Environmental Biotechnology Division, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Charles Lekhya
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Priya
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Microbiology Research Laboratory, Environmental Biotechnology Division, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Bhaskara Rao
keywords: Acalypha indica; Albino–Wistar rats; a-glucosidase inhibitor; antioxidant; postprandial hyperglycemia