Antidiabetic efficacy of polar extracts of the leaves of tetracera indica merr. (dilleniaceae) in alloxanized rats

Background review: Plants are considered less toxic than synthetic drugs. Recently, the search for appropriate anti-diabetic agents has been focused on plants used in traditional medicine partly because of leads provided by traditional medicine to natural products that may be better treatments than currently used drugs responsible for serious side effects among diabetics. In folk remedies, leaves of Tetracera indica Merr. (Dilleniaceae) are effectively used in the treatment of diabetes. However, there is no scientific claim about its efficacy in the management of diabetes. Objective: Present study was aimed to investigate the antidiabetic potential of the leaves of T. indica Merr. in vivo to prove its effectiveness in the treatment of diabetes. Methods: Polar extracts (i.e., aqueous (AQ) and methanol (MEOH)) of the leaves of T. indica were prepared and administered to both normal and alloxan induced diabetic male albino rats (Sprague Dawley strain). Two doses of each extract (250 and 500 mg/kg b.w.) were evaluated. The blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after oral administration of AQ and MEOH extracts. Comparison was made with standard antidiabeteic drug, glibenclamide (GLBC). Results and Conclusion: Both AQ and MEOH extracts exhibited significant antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats, however in normal rats no hypoglycemic activity was observed, when compared with both +ve and –ve controlled groups. The antidiabetic activity was also found to be comparable to that of the effect produced by GLBC (0.25 mg/kg b.w.). The LD50 of both AQ and MEOH extracts was found to be more than 5000 mg/kg body weight and no lethal toxicity was observed within this range. This study provides scientific evidence for the traditional use of leaves of T. indica Merr. in the management of diabetes in Malaysia. Keywords: Tetracera indica Merr. (Dilleniaceae), antidiabetic activity, alloxanized rat

Phytochemical screening expedition 2009 : drug discovery from nature.

Malaysia is a tropical country endowed with very rich and diverse specIes of flora with promising medicinal values, which are still fully untapped, The country also has a strong tradition in ethnomedical practices, many ohvhich utilize the local flora. These two factors have initiated the research in natural products sciences, which provide an ideal common ground for collaboration between chemists, botanists and pharmacologists. In addition, phytochemical research on our local medicinal plants is an area of great potential that needs to be explored further. For that reason, Phytochemical Screening Expedition has been regularly organized as yearly programme at Kulliyyah ofPharmacy since 200

Ethnomedicinal survey of medicinal plants used to treat diabetes in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Objectives: Synthetic antidiabetic drugs have been reported to exhibit deleterious effects and have failed to alter the course of diabetic complications. Traditional medicinal plants possessing antidiabetic effects can be a valuable source for the development of safer oral hypoglycemic agents. Hence, the aim of this ethnomedicinal survey was to document the ethno-medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Design and methods: The field survey was performed from November 2013 through December 2014. Face-to-face interview and questionnaires were used to assemble information regarding the participants, local name of the plant, origin, parts used and method of herbal remedy. Citation index (CI) for each species mentioned and relative citation index (RCI) were calculated. Results: Thirty species belonging to twenty five families and twenty nine genera were recorded. 63.3% of these species were native while 36.7% were cultivated. The most frequently used part was leaves. Decoction was the most common herbal preparation. Hibiscus rosa sinensis has the highest citation index (CI) followed by Psidium guajava and Cymbopogon citratus with 0.09, 0.08, and 0.07, respectively. Three plants viz. Polyalthia bullata, Rourea concolor and Smilax myosotiflora have never been scientifically validated for their traditional use as antidiabetic agents. Plant species for diabetes treatment varied in every village due to the differences in rate of industrialization, urbanization and environmental degradation. Conclusion: This survey has successfully recognized the plants most commonly used by local practitioners in Bangi community to treat diabetes. Research studies on P. bullata, R. concolor and S. myosotiflora might furnish a new class of safe antidiabetic agents. Keywords: Diabetes, Ethno-medicinal plants, Citation index, Bangi, Malaysi

Sintok (Entada spiralis ridl.): natural sources of antioxidant compounds

Sintok or Beluru, scientifically known as Entada spiralis Rid!. is belongs to Leguminoceae. This plant is a huge liana with woody climber that grows wildly in Malaysia. Sintok is found natively to Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. This species have been characterized by its bipinnate leaves with small flowers. As recognized being as one of Mimosoideae sub-family, stamens of flower is the main parts of attraction. The pods of seed are curled with 5-1 l very large seeds to each pod. In Malay aromatheraphy, Sintok plant is an important element that used during post-natal bath and body cleansing shampoo (FRIM Flora Database). This plant also acknowledged by Universaiti Utara Malaysia (UUM Sintok) as their icon as UUM located in Sintok, name that derived from this plant

Phytochemical screening of Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve : Isolation of Ariskanin-A from Thottea corymbosa (Griff.) Ding Hou (Aristolochiaceae)

During a phytochemical screening of higher plants at Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Puchong, Selangor, we collected a large amount of sample of Thottea corymbosa roots for further investigation of its bioactive constituents. The plant is a shrub commonly used in herbal medicine and could easily be found along the open forest trails. The roots of the collected sample were consecutively extracted with petroleum-ether, chloroform and methanol followed by separation of the chloroform fraction by column chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography. In this study we reported the isolation of an aristolactam, Ariskanin-A with a toxicity value of LC50 <200 ppm in Brine-Shrimp Lethality Bioassay based on spectroscopic data and comparison with literature

Two isolated crystalline solids from the stem of Entada spiralis Ridl.(akar Sintok) = Pemencilan dua jenis pepejal kristal dari batang pokok Entada spiralis (Akar Sintok)

Entada spiralis Ridl. (Leguminosae) is a woody climber which locally known as ‘akar sintok’. The isolation and structure determination of two crystalline solids from active methanol fraction of E. spiralis stem bark had been examined. The structure identification of both solids was based on spectroscopic data (1 H and 13C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, DEPT135 and MS) along with comparison with literature data. The results revealed that these two crystalline solid sugars isolated from the most active fraction were known as penta-2-acetoxy-β-D-digitoxopyranosyl-(1→2)-fructofuranosyl-(6→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)- glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D fructofuranosyl-(6→1)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(4→1)-acetylglucosamine (1) and β,D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β,D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-β,D-xylopyranosyl(1→4)-α,L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→3)-β,D- glucopyranosyl(1→3)- β,D-glucopyranoside (2) Thus, this finding can be utilized as a scientific baseline information for further skin disease studies, since both constituents were isolated from moderate antidermatophytic active fraction. Pemencilan dan penentuan struktur dua komponen bersifat kristal dari batang pokok E. spiralis yang juga dikenali sebagai akar sintok telah dijalankan. Eksperimen penentuan struktur berdasarkan data – data spektroskopi menggunakan 1 H, 13C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, DEPT135 dan spektrometer jisim dan juga perbandingan dengan kajian terdahulu. Hasil analisa spektroskopi yang terperinci menunjukkan kedua – dua kristal tersebut dikenali sebagai penta-2-asetoksi-β-D-digitoxopiranosil-(1→2)- fruktofuranosil-(6→4)-β-D-glukopiranosil-(1→4)-glukopiranosil-(1→2)-β-D fruktofuranosil-(6→1)-β-D-glukopiranosil-(4→1)- acetilglukosamina (1) and β,D-glukopiranosil(1→2)-β,D-glukpiranosil)-(1→3)-β,D-xilopiranosil(1→4)-α,L-rhamnopiranosil)- (1→3)-β,D-glukopiranosil(1→3)-β,D-glukopiranosid (2). Penemuan ini boleh dijadikan maklumat asas untuk kajian penyakit kulit kerana kedua-dua komponen ini dipencilkan dari fraksi metanol yang bersifat antiderma

Bioactive compounds from sterm bark of Entada Spiralis RIDL

Introduction: Entada spiralis Ridl. (Leguminoceae) which is locally known as beluru or sintok is a liana or woody climber that grows wildly in Malaysia. The isolation and characterisation of the major chemical constituents from the bioactive extract of the stem bark of E. spiralis has been carried out. Our previous study revealed that the methanol extract was active against dermatophytes that causes skin infections. Strains of dermatophytes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 9533, Trichophyton tonsurans ATCC 28942 and Microsporum gypseum ATCC 24102 were used

Animal models and natural products to investigate in vivo and in vitro antidiabetic activity

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which has high prevalence. The deficiency in insulin production or impaired insulin function is the underlying cause of this disease. Utilization of plant sources as a cure of diabetes has rich evidence in the history. Recently, the traditional medicinal plants have been investigated scientifically to understand the underlying mechanism behind antidiabetic potential. In this regard, a substantial number of in vivo and in vitro models have been introduced for investigating the bottom-line mechanism of the antidiabetic effect. A good number of methods have been reported to be used successfully to determine antidiabetic effects of plant extracts or isolated compounds. This review encompasses all the possible methods with a list of medicinal plants which may contribute to discovering a novel drug to treat diabetes more efficaciously with the minimum or no side effects

In vitro study of antifungal activity of Entada spiralis Ridl. crude extract against dermatophytes of superficial skin disease

The antifungal activity of crude extracts from the stem bark of Entada spiralis was evaluated in vitro against human dermatophytes by disc diffusion method. Three types of human dermatophytes, known as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton tonsurans and one non-dermatophyteCandida glabrata, were tested against petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol crude extracts of the E. spiralis. Results revealed that all dermatophytes were susceptible towards all tested crude extracts, whereas, the non-dermatophyte showed resistance to all the extracts. M. gypseum was found to be most susceptible towards petroleum ether extract (400mg/ml), with a zone of inhibition of 16 mm. The ethyl acetate and methanol crude extracts (400mg/ml each) exhibited highest activity against T. tonsurans with inhibition zones of 12.7 mm and 11.5 mm, respectively. Nystatin was used as the standard antifungal drug in all experiments and served as the positive control. All these results suggested that the petroleum ether crude extract was the most active extract against all tested dermatophytes except for C. glabrata. Based on these current findings, it can be concluded that the stem bark extracts of E. spiralis have promising antifungal activities and can be used as a potent antifungal drug against certain dermatophytes