Hypoglycemic effects of Enhydra fluctuans aerial extract on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Enhydra fluctuans is one of the medicinal plants of the Minangkabau tribe, West Sumatra, Indonesia which is widely used by the community to treat various diseases including diabetes mellitus. However, scientific studying of its hypoglycemic activity is very limited. In this study, we evaluated the hypoglycemic activity of E. fluctuans aerial ethanol using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in stable hyperglycemia rats and its phytochemical screening. Twenty-five diabetic rats were divided into five groups with five replications: negative control, positive control (glibenclamide), ethanol extract dosage of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. Blood glucose is measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Blood glucose level, the area under the curve (AUC) value, and the percentage of blood glucose reduction is calculated. It was found that a dosage of 500 mg/kg was the best hypoglycemic activity in stable hyperglycemia rats and significantly different (p<0.05) compared with the negative control. Hypoglycemic activity of this dosage was longer if compared with glibenclamide. E. fluctuans aerial ethanol extract contained saponins, phenolic, terpenoids, steroids, and coumarin compounds. Our findings demonstrate that E. fluctuans have potent hypoglycemic effects in diabetes.

Protective effect of Enhydra fluctuans DC. aerial against insulitis in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

“…A lot of research shows that compounds derived from plants have the activity to reduce insulitis and regenerate the Islets of Langerhans [7,[22][23]. The glucose-lowering effect of ethanol extracts of aerial E. fluctuans has been reported [13][14], but its effect on reducing insulitis and ameliorating the pancreas has not been reported. Our study focused on evaluating the protective effect of n-hexane fraction of this herb against insulitis in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.…”

“…This herb is a traditional medicinal plant for the Minangkabau tribe of West Sumatra and is consumed as a vegetable. This herb is known to have broad biological activities such as having antidiabetic activity [13][14], hepatoprotective [15] and antioxidants [16][17][18]. It is also known to be rich in nutrients, containing triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, and steroids [17][18][19].…”

“…The glucose-lowering effects of ethanol extract from this herb have been reported in experimental animals [13][14]. However, its effect on protecting the pancreas and reducing insulitis has not been discussed.…”

Effect of Enhydra fluctuans on Kidney Function in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

“…The constituents reported in this plant are flavonoid saponins, phenols, tannins, terpenes, and steroids compounds [14]. In addition, this herb is known to have broad biological activities such as hepatoprotective [16], antioxidants [17], and antidiabetic [18], [19]. However, information on the effect of this plant on kidney function in diabetic rats is not known.…”