In the present investigation, Ichnocarpus frutescens, Ficus dalhousiae, Crateva magna, Alpinia galanga, and Swertia chirata plants were selected to formulate polyherbal tea bag. The infusion obtained from these polyherbal tea bags was used to formulate 5% and 10% ointment formulation to perform its wound healing activity. The excision wound model was used to assess the wound healing activity in diabetic as well nondiabetic rats. The mean percentage closure of wound area was calculated on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, and finally 21st day. The wound healing activity of formulation was found to be significantly compared with that of the reference standard and untreated groups. The percentages of closure of excision wound area on the 21st day in diabetic animals treated with ointment formulations (F1 and F2) were found to be 93.91 ± 1.65% and 99.12 ± 5.21% respectively, whereas the chloramphenicol sodium drug solution was found to be 99.81 ± 3.16%. The percentages of closure of excision wound area in nondiabetic animals treated with ointment formulations (F1 and F2) were found to be 96.81 ± 2.04% and 98.13 ± 1.14%, respectively, whereas the chloramphenicol sodium drug solution was found to be 99.15 ± 1.41% at 21st day. Therefore, from the above results, we have concluded that this polyherbal ointment can be used clinically for the treatment of diabetic and nondiabetic wounds.

For the treatment and maintenance of postprandial blood glucose increases (i.e., diabetes mellitus), alpha (α)-amylase is a well-known therapeutic target. In this paper, we report an initial exploration of the work, i.e., in vitro alpha-amylase activity of the hydroalcoholic polyherbal extract of the selected plants. After drying, the plant material is ground individually, and at least 100 gm of the crude powder is prepared from each plant. 100 gm of each plant was combined, and a total of 500 gm of the crude powder (Ichnocarpus frutescens (100 gm) + Ficus dalhousie (100 gm) + Crateva magna (100 gm) + Alpinia galangal (100 gm) + Swertia chirata (100 gm)) was prepared to carry out the extraction. This obtained extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and in vitro alpha-amylase activity. At 16 mg/mL, acarbose displayed 78.40 ± 0.36% inhibition, whereas the extract exhibited 72.96 ± 0.70% inhibition, which is significantly comparable. The IC50 value of acarbose was 12.9 ± 1.12, whereas the extract exhibited 13.31 ± 1.12 mg/mL. The extract possesses numerous classes of chemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, polyphenols, and terpenoids, which can contribute to the antidiabetic activity through alpha-amylase inhibition. This was an initial exploration of the work as a proof of concept for the development of polyherbal tea bag formulation for the treatment of diabetes. In the future, we are aiming to investigate the effectiveness of polyherbal tea bags in the treatment of diabetes using more in vitro and in vivo models. From the present investigation, we have concluded that this extract can be used for the treatment of diabetes.

Ichnocarpus frutescens, Ficus dalhousie, Crateva magna, Alpinia galangal, and Swertia chiraita are well-known plants available throughout India and they are commonly used for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes mellitus. The antidiabetic activity of the individual plant parts is well known, but the synergistic or combined effects are unclear. Polyherbal formulations enhance the therapeutic action and reduce the concentrations of single herbs, thereby reducing adverse events. The aim of the present study is to formulate a polyherbal tea bag formulation and evaluate its in vivo antidiabetic potential. The polyherbal formulation was formulated using the crude powder of the plants. The herbal formulation depicts hyperglycemic effects in both normal and experimentally induced hyperglycemia rats. The antidiabetic activity of the polyherbal formulation (100 mL/kg b.w.) was screened against streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetes mellitus in rats. The infusion extract was administered for 21 consecutive days, and the effect of the polyherbal formulation on blood glucose levels was studied at regular intervals. At the end of the study, the blood samples were collected from all the animals for biochemical estimation (SGOT and SGPT). Polyherbal tea bag formulation showed significant antidiabetic activity and this effect was comparable with that of Metformin.

The plant Ichnocarpus frutescens belongs to family Apocynaceae, commonly known as ‘Black creeper’ (In Odia: Syamolota; Hindi: Kali-dudhi, Krishna sariva; Sanskrit: Syamalata, Sariva). It is native to India, China, Java, Ceylon, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. It is a large, evergreen, woody climbing plant. In India, tribes used this plant as a substitute of Indian Sersaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus). Phytochemical investigation indicates that plant belong to various category viz. phytosterol, triterpenes, flavonoids and various other phenolic compounds. Pharmacological activities of different parts of the plant reported include anti-urolithiasis, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antitumor activity etc. The presented review article aims to highlight a brief and comparative data on botanical, ethnopharmacological, phytochemical & pharmacological standards of plant Ichnocarpus frutescens.

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