INSULIN SECRETAGOGUE EFFECT OF ROOTS OF RAVENALA MADAGASCARIENSIS SONN. - AN IN VITRO STUDY

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the cytotoxicity profile and to evaluate the insulin secretagogue effect of ethanolic root extract of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. Methods: The cell viability of rat insulinoma 5F (RIN5F) cell lines over the treatment of plant extract was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The insulin-releasing effect was evaluated by insulin secretion assay over RIN5F cell lines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The ethanolic extract of the roots of R. madagascariensis Sonn. showed negligible cytotoxicity at 20–40 μg/ml, and hence, concentrations up to 40 μg/ml were used in insulin secretion assay. The ethanolic root extract at 20 and 40 μg/ml significantly (p<0.05 compared to control) stimulated the insulin release in a dose-dependent manner even in the presence of glucose at lower and higher concentrations (5 and 10 mM). Conclusion: Thus, our results validate its traditional claim in the treatment of diabetes by stimulating the secretion of insulin, thereby suggesting a possible mechanism of its antidiabetic effect

Preliminary phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography profiling, and in-vitro antiurolithiatic activity of the leaves of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn.

Urolithiasis, the third most common disorder of the urinary tract is bundled with highly complex and unpredictably varied etiological factors. The undesirable adverse effects with current medications and the recurrence rate pose a major challenge in combating the disorder. Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. has been used traditionally in treating kidney stone problems. The present study was aimed at investigating the antiurolithiatic activity of different extracts of the leaves of R. madagascariensis. Phytochemical screening carried out on the methanolic, hydromethanolic, and decoction extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, steroids, proteins, flavonoids, and quinones. Thin layer chromatography profiling of all three extracts was established. The turbidity method was carried out to evaluate in-vitro antiurolithiatic activity and the herbal formulation cystone was used as the standard drug. The results of the study showed that the decoction of R. madagascariensis exhibited excellent antiurolithiatic potential with an IC50 value of 188.65 µg/mL in comparison with the methanolic (305.93 µg/mL) and hydromethanolic (306.83 µg/mL) extracts. Thus the findings of the study validate the claims of antiurolithiatic activity of R. madagascariensis that could be attributed to the presence of active phytoconstituents. Further studies are aimed at its formulation and development

Preliminary phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography profiling, and in-vitro antiurolithiatic activity of the leaves of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn.

425-430Urolithiasis, the third most common disorder of the urinary tract is bundled with highly complex and unpredictably varied etiological factors. The undesirable adverse effects with current medications and the recurrence rate pose a major challenge in combating the disorder. Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. has been used traditionally in treating kidney stone problems. The present study was aimed at investigating the antiurolithiatic activity of different extracts of the leaves of R.madagascariensis. Phytochemical screening carried out on the methanolic, hydromethanolic, and decoction extractsrevealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, steroids, proteins, flavonoids, andquinones. Thin layer chromatography profiling of all three extracts was established. The turbidity method was carried out toevaluate in-vitro antiurolithiatic activity and the herbal formulation cystone was used as the standard drug. The results of thestudy showed that the decoction of R. madagascariensis exhibited excellent antiurolithiatic potential with an IC50 value of 188.65 μg/mL in comparison with the methanolic (305.93 μg/mL) and hydromethanolic (306.83 μg/mL) extracts. Thus the findings of the study validate the claims of antiurolithiatic activity of R. madagascariensis that could be attributed to the presence of active phytoconstituents. Further studies are aimed at its formulation and development

Antitumor effect of leaves of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn., in PANC1 and SW1990 pancreatic cell lines

89-95Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths in developed countries with an average survival rate of less than 9%. Up to 80% of the patients with pancreatic cancer are found to be diabetic at the time of diagnosis. Leaves of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn., have been traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes and was scientifically proven to be effective as an antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, renoprotective and antioxidant agent. In the present study, the antitumor effect of successive ethanolic leaf extract over two human pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC1 and SW1990 was evaluated by MTT assay. The shade dried, powdered leaves of R. madagascariensis, was subjected to successive soxhlet extraction with n-hexane, ethyl acetate followed by ethanol, concentrated and evaporated to dryness. The extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and was found to possess alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, phenols and tannins. The thin layer chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography of various extracts of R. madagascariensis, was established. Based on the free radical scavenging potential, the ethanol extract was selected for further cytotoxicity studies. The ethanolic extract exhibited excellent cytotoxic effect against PANC1 and SW1990 with an IC50 value of 12.58 µg/mL and 18.9 µg/mL respectively. Thus the results validate the antitumor potential of R. madagascariensis, leaf extract against pancreatic cancer and further studies were aimed at the identification of active components responsible for the activity