Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic potential of Rhazya stricta Decne extract and its fractions

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is the most common human disease and there is growing interest for plant based therapy in managing diabetes mellitus specifically in the developing world. In the present study, Rhazya stricta Decne extract was analysed for its antidiabetic activities. Crude methanolic extracts of different plant parts were tested in vivo on albino mice Balb-C, for the reduction of blood glucose, urea, cholesterol, triacylglycerides and glycosylated haemoglobin. Results obtained showed that leaves of R. stricta have best antidiabetic effect by reducing blood glucose level, Glycosylated haemoglobin, triacylglycerides and Cholesterol in hyperglycaemic mice. The R. stricta leaves extract being most active was further fractionated by solvent extraction using n- Hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and water and all fractions were tested for same activities. It was found that ethyl acetate fraction is most effective in the reduction of blood glucose level at fasting and random conditions and blood glucose reduction was comparable to Glucophage, a standard antidiabetic drug. The present study suggests that Rhazya stricta leaves extract and its ethyl acetate fraction has great potential for development of antidiabetic drug.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v4i2.21484 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, January 2015, 4(2): 353-361

Assessment of antidiabetic potential and phytochemical profiling of Rhazya stricta root extracts

“…Continuous monitoring of the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients and HBA1C levels are considered important factors in the treatment of DM. The root extracts of R. stricta considerably reduced the blood glucose level and HbA1c in accordance with previous reports where aerial parts of the plant were seen reducing blood glucose levels and HbA1c accordingly [13,14]. Another study reported that long-term oral administration of alkaloids rich fractions of R. stricta significantly improved the insulin level and insulin resistance which showed insulin secretagogue activity of the plant for the disposal of blood glucose [16].…”

“…The outcome of these biochemical parameters pointed out lipid-lowering potential and beneficial effects of the root extract on kidneys and liver functions of the mice. The extract of the leaves of R. stricta was reported in lowering the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in animals [13,14,16,66]. The histological examination of the mice liver has shown that the administration of the root extract fractions has not posed any substantial alterations of liver cells and any kind of known hepatic variations like dilation, congestion, necrosis or hypertrophy were not seen in all treated groups.…”

“…In 1996, Tanira et al reported an increase in the insulin concentration after administration of R. stricta extracts to animals resulting in glucose levels reduction [12]. In a study by Ahmed et al, a noteworthy decline in blood glucose levels was observed in diabetic mice after oral administration of extracts fractions of Rhazya stricta [13]. In another comparative study, Ahmed et al [14] also reported Rhazya stricta as the best in lowering blood glucose levels in animals among other medicinal plants used for the management of diabetes.…”

Emergence of Plastidial Intergenic Spacers as Suitable DNA Barcodes for Arid Medicinal Plant <i>Rhazya stricta</i>

“…But these two sister species exhibit similarity in possessing therapeutically significant secondary metabolites. About 100s of alkaloids [2] and flavonoids from R. stricta contain innumerable pharmacological properties [5] [6] [7]. R. stricta is considered as a potential chemopreventive [8] [9], antifungal [10], and antidiabetic [11] agent and also produces analgesic and sedative effects [7].…”

“…About 100s of alkaloids [2] and flavonoids from R. stricta contain innumerable pharmacological properties [5] [6] [7]. R. stricta is considered as a potential chemopreventive [8] [9], antifungal [10], and antidiabetic [11] agent and also produces analgesic and sedative effects [7]. Likewise the metabolites originating from R. orientalis have various anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties [12].…”