Phytochemical Screening, Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Analysis, and Antidiabetic Effects of Corchorus olitorius Leaves in Rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Therapies for diabetes mellitus are still meeting failure in most cases, especially in the developed stages of the disease due to incredible associating complications. Hence, there is a need for continuous development of curative therapies for that stubborn disease.
 AIM: We aimed to investigate the antidiabetic effects of one of the most popular plants cultivated in Egypt, C. olitorius.
 METHODS: Phytochemical screening of total alcoholic extract of Corchorus olitorius leaves and its aqueous and chloroform fractions revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins, coumarins, and alkaloids.
 RESULTS: The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the presence of 12 and nine chemical compounds in aqueous and chloroform extracts, respectively. C. olitorius decreased serum glucose level and α-amylase activity. This effect was more pronounced in the total alcoholic extract and its chloroform fraction than the aqueous one. The extracts also adjusted the lipid profile, reduced liver injury parameters, and caused remarkable improvement and increase number, size, and density of functioning β-cells.
 CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of C. olitorius besides its beneficial effect on diabetic complications such as hyperlipidemia and liver injury. The presence of some phytochemicals such as theophylline, trans-2, 3-dimethoxycinnamic acid, 7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin, apigenin 7-glucoside, and glycitein may contribute to such pharmacological effects.

2,3-Dimethoxycinnamic Acid from a Marine Actinomycete, a Promising Quorum Sensing Inhibitor in Chromobacterium violaceum

“…As shown in Figure 1B, 2,3-DCA exhibited an inhibitory effect on violacein production in C. violaceum CV026, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 2,3-DCA against C. violaceum CV026 was determined to be over 500 µg/mL. Although 2,3-DCA is a common cinnamic acid derivative, to the best of our knowledge, only its ability to promote the formation of long and entangled wormlike micelles has been reported to date [19,20]. The isolation of 2,3-DCA from N. metallicus and its QS inhibitory effects on C. violaceum have not been reported.…”

A Comprehensive Review of C. capsularis and C. olitorius: A Source of Nutrition, Essential Phytoconstituents and Pharmacological Activities

“…It has been reported that alcoholic and chloroform extracts of C. olitorius (100 mg/kg) protected against diabetic complications such as hyperlipidemia and determinant effects on the liver tissue. These pharmacological effects are due to the presence of some bioactive phytochemical constituents such as theophylline, trans-2, 3-dimethoxycinnamic acid, 7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin, apigenin 7-glucoside, and glycitein [ 128 ].…”