Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084319
Antidiabetic principle from Eclipta prostrata
The plant Eclipta prostrata, a member of the Asteraceae family, has traditional reputation of being used as a medicinal agent in Bangladesh [1]. The methanol extract of the whole plant of Eclipta prostrata and one of its isolated compounds, eclalbasaponin II (1) were administered to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 28 and 7 consecutive days, respectively. During the study, a potent antidiabetic activity was observed. Blood sugar was significantly reduced (Table 1 and 2) by E. prostrata extract and eclalbasaponin II (1), respectively as compared to untreated diabetic rats [2,3]. Analyses of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) [4] showed no significant hepatotoxicity by E. prostrata extractive in alloxan-induced diabetic rats when compared to the diabetic control rats.
Table 1: The effect of 4 weeks treatment of methanolic extract of E. prostrata on blood sugar level
Groups |
Mmol/L |
||||
1st day |
7th day |
14th day |
21st day |
28th day |
|
Normal (untreated) |
4.85±0.08 |
5.02±0.10 |
4.91±0.07 |
4.79±0.11 |
4.85±0.06 |
Diabetic control |
12.03±0.18** |
12.98±0.19** |
14.05±0.23** |
15.09±0.28** |
17.20±0.22** |
Glibenclamide treated |
12.18±0.55 |
10.82±0.18 |
9.53±0.21 |
7.08±0.16 |
6.43±0.16 |
Methanolic extract treated |
12.69±0.32 |
10.85±0.16* |
9.37±0.20** |
7.21±0.24** |
6.55±0.11** |
Table 2: The effect of 1 week treatment of eclalbasaponin II (1) on blood sugar level
Groups |
Mmol/L |
|||
1st day |
3rd day |
5th day |
7th day |
|
Normal untreated |
4.8±0.56 |
5.03±0.48 |
4.85±0.55 |
4.95±0.40 |
Diabetic control |
12.40±0.35** |
12.49±0.44** |
12.97±0.51** |
13.52±0.34** |
Glibenclamide treated |
12.78±0.25 |
12.01±0.31 |
11.63±0.26 |
10.51±0.35 |
Eclalbasaponin treated |
12.87±0.68 |
10.80±0.71** |
8.17±0.65** |
6.06±0.66** |
Values are given as mean±SEM for 6 rats in each group. Diabetic control (Group-2) was compared with normal (Group-1) on corresponding day. Experimental group (Group-4) was compared with diabetic control group on corresponding day. *P<0.05; **P<0.001
Acknowledgement: We are grateful to University of Dhaka, Bangladesh for partial financial support for carrying out the research.
References: 1. Abdel-Kader, M.S. et al. (1998)J. Nat. Prod. 61:1202–1208. 2. Yoshikawa, M. et al. (2001) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 49:863–870. 3. Trinder, P. (1969) Ann. Clin. Biochem. 6:24–27. 4. Mansour, H.A. et al. (2002) Toxicology 170:221–228.