The previously studied hypoglycemic effect of fenugreek galactomannan was confirmed in normal rats. Additional investigations were carried out to study the effect of galactomannan on utilization of glucose by hemidiaphragm and its antioxidant activity in diabetic rats. As compared to diabetic control rats, the galactomannan enhanced the uptake of glucose by hemidiaphragm but it was not comparable to the standard drug glibenclamide. Furthermore, galactomannan lowered lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The present study demonstrates that fenugreek galactomannan exhibits little antioxidant activity and little effect on peripheral glucose uptake. Further scope is there to study galactomannan's different antidiabetic mechanism(s) of actions.

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A marine alga, Caulerpa racemose (seaweed), exhibits few biological activities, such as antinociceptive/anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and growth regulator. This study aimed to determine the antidiabetic activity of this seaweed. High-performance thin-layer chromatography of C. racemosa ethanolic extract was performed to identify its active constituents. Antidiabetic activity of C. racemosa ethanolic extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) was evaluated using various biochemical paradigms against glipizide (5 mg/kg) in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes rat model. High-performance thin-layer chromatography revealed β-sitosterol as an active constituent and also indicated the presence of saponins and alkaloids. Treatment with C. racemosa ethanolic extract significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, and the degree of glucose reduction was comparable to that attained by glipizide treatment. The C. racemosa ethanolic extract treatment restored the impaired glycosylated hemoglobin level, liver glycogen level, glucose uptake by hemidiaphragm, and glucose transport by hepatic cells. Pretreatment with C. racemosa ethanolic extract also restored lipid abnormalities, elevated liver enzymes, elevated inflammatory markers, and depleted endogenous antioxidants. A superior effect was shown by C. racemosa ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) over glipizide (5 mg/kg). Moreover, the restoration of the histoarchitecture of the pancreas by C. racemosa ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) was comparable to that of the glipizide (5 mg/kg) treatment group. The present experimental findings demonstrate significant antidiabetic activity of C. racemosa ethanolic extract in diabetic rats using various biochemical paradigms. Further, C. racemosa ethanolic extract seems to be safe and does not affect vital organs adversely.

Recommended Citation: Naik, Suresh R.; Bumrela, Shrinivas B.; Lagishetty, Chakradhar V.; and Mandlik, Rahul V. (2009) "Probable Mechanism of the Antihyperglycemic Effect of Standardized Extract from AbstractThe herb Momordica charantia Linn has been used widely in India and other countries for the treatment of diabetes. In the present study reports the antihyperglycemic activity of standardised Momordica charantia extract (MCE) using in-vivo and in-vitro animal models along with the relevant biochemical and histopathological parameters. The antihyperglycemic activity of MCE was compared with that of glibenclamide, a known potent anti-diabetic drug. MCE treatment reduced blood glucose levels both in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, and also restored the glucose tolerance significantly in diabetic rats. MCE treatment enhanced glucose uptake process and increased liver glycogen. Furthermore, MCE treatment reduced the elevated serum lipids and glycosylated haemoglobin levels significantly and able to reverse histoarchitechture of β-islets of Langerhans in STZ-induced diabetic rats.The blood insulin levels were also restored significantly in STZ diabetic rats following MCE treatment. Present experimental findings with MCE suggest its antihyperglycemic activity and might be attributed to pancreatic (increased insulin secretion) and also extra pancreatic (through enzymes associated with glycogen synthesis and augmenting the utilization of glucose by peripheral tissues) mechanisms. Thus, MCE seems to be a clinically promising agent in the management of diabetes and/or hyperglycemic associated disorders.