Aim and Objective: Oncoba spinosa Forssk. (Flacourtiaceae) (OS) is traditionally used for the management of diabetes mellitus. In previous studies, we studied the effect of OS on α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, however the effect of OS on pancreatic lipase inhibition and kinetics of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibition were not studied. This study determined the in vitro inhibitory effects of OS against pancreatic lipase and characterized the kinetics of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibition. Materials and Methods:Dried powdered roots were successively extracted with various solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and 70% ethanol. The successive extracts obtained (62.5-1000 μg/ml) were subjected to in vitro pancreatic lipase inhibitory assay and the most active extract was selected for kinetic studies.Results: Of all the successive extracts studied, the ethanolic extract showed highest pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. The ethanolic extract showed mixed type of inhibition against α-amylase and pancreatic lipase whereas noncompetitive inhibition against α-glucosidase. Conclusion:The data of this study suggests that OS inhibits amylase, glucosidase and lipase activities, which leads to a reduction in the intestinal absorption of carbohydrates and lipids.

The different extracts of Oncoba spinosa (Flacourtiaceae) were screened for in vitro antidiabetic activity. Of all the extracts tested, ethanolic extract showed highest α-amylase inhibition ranging from 8.64+0.66% to 79.94+0.65% and α-glucosidase inhibition ranging from 14.12+0.51% to 78.68+0.36% when studied at concentrations 62.5-1000μg/mL. The ethanolic extract was subjected to antidiarrheal activity and diarrheal severity was reduced significantly by 15.81% in 100mg/kg group, 30.45% in 200mg/kg group and 74.37% in 400mg/kg group in castor oil induced diarrhea model. In castor oil induced enteropooling, the extract at doses 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg showed 33.46% and 42.44% inhibition of intestinal accumulation. In the charcoal meal test, the distance travelled by charcoal meal was significantly reduced by the extract at doses 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg (P<0.01). The overall results tend to suggest the antidiabetic and antidiarrheal activities of Oncoba spinosa.

Nandhi Mezhugu (NM) is a classical Siddha herbo-mineral formulation indicated for all types of Arthritides. Acute toxicity study was performed at 3 dose levels, i.e., 50, 300, and 2000 mg/kg body weight of rats. Sub-acute toxicity study was performed at doses of 9, 45, 90 mg/kg body weight and sub-chronic toxicity study was performed at doses of 9, 45, 110 mg/kg body weight of rats. Palm Jaggery solution was used as vehicle. In sub-acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies, the drug was administered twice for 7 days followed by 7 days of drug holiday, i.e., in sub-acute toxicity study, the period was 56 days and in the sub-chronic toxicity study, it was 180 days. In both studies, the high dose recovery and recovery control groups were used to study the safety of the drug. Biochemical, haematological parameters, gross pathology and histopathology of the rats were analysed in both studies. ICP-OES detection of heavy metal traces in animal tissue samples in sub-chronic toxicity study (high dose group) were analysed. Acute toxicity study showed no mortality and no treatment-related toxicity signs. Similarly, sub-acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies showed no treatment-related abnormalities at the high dose levels such as 90 and 110 mg/kg body weight in rats respectively. Hence, the scientific validation of the safety of Nandhimezhugu is proven by the toxicity studies.