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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Memecylon talbotianum Brandis, (Melastomataceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant used in ethno-medicine including Ayurveda. However, the potential of this plant in controlling diabetes has not yet been evaluated. The role of M. talbotianum leaf extract on streptozotocin (STZ, 2-deoxy-2-(3- (methyl-3-nitrosoureido) d-glucopyranose- induced diabetes in male Wistar rats is investigated. Methods: The leaf extract was fractionated, its phytoconstituents were evaluated using HPLC and rats (6 animals in each group) were treated orally with M. talbotianum leaf methanol active fraction (MTLMAF) (100, 200 and 1000 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days with a single dose with metformin as a positive control. Biochemical parameters, histopathological and immunostaining studies were performed. Results: Administration of MTLMAF, significantly decreased the glucose level after four weeks (312 ± 14 mg/dL in diabetic animals compared to 134 ± 13 mg/dL in MTLMAF treated animals) and controlled the levels of TG (155 ± 63.55 units/dL in diabetic and 100.66 ± 13.31 units/dL in treated animals), LDL, HDL, VLDL and endogenous antioxidants (SOD, catalase and GSH). Histopathological studies substantiated the protective role of MTLMAF. MTLMAF also alleviated liver and pancreatic damage in STZdiabetic rats. HPLC analysis revealed that rutin, quercetin and protocatechuic acid were the major components present in M. talbotianum. The presence of these compounds in M. talbotianum is reported for the first time here and these compounds may be responsible for antidiabetic properties. Conclusion: Our study shows that MTLMAF could protect rats against streptozotocin induced diabetes, improves lipid profile, reduce the risk of oxidative stress and, ameliorate liver and pancreatic damage.
Keywords: HPLC, STZ-diabetes, M. talbotianum, MTLMAF, Antidiabetic.
INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants play an appreciable role in the development of modern herbal medicines where many diseases such as cancer, liver diseases and arthritis find no complete cure in allopathy. The bioactive compounds of medicinal plants are used as antidiabetic, chemotherapeutic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents where no satisfactory cure is available in modern medicines. Although different classes of drugs are available to control diabetes, still it is a challenging task to develop a better molecule which is devoid of undesirable adverse effects compared to existing drugs. Therefore, the search for more effective and safer hypoglycemic agents is important area of active research and the efficacy of antidiabetic medicinal plants has been increasingly...