Antidiabetic Activity of Marsilea
quadrifolia linn in Alloxan-Diabetic Rats
Dongare
SS*, Maske AP, Patil SM, Umbare RP and Mate GS
ASPM’s K. T. Patil.
ABSTRACT
The
different extracts of the Marsilea quadrifolia linn (Family-
Marsileaceae) were tested for anti-diabetic
activity, by normal rats and alloxan induced diabetic
rats. Aqueous and methanol extracts had shown significant protection and
lowered the blood glucose level. In alloxan induced
diabetic rats the maximum reduction in blood glucose was observed after 72h at
a dose level of 200mg/kg body weight. In short term treatment of alloxan induced diabetic rats was determined by measuring
blood glucose levels on 0,24,48 and 72h. Both the extracts showed a significant
anti- diabetic activity comparable with that of glibenclamide.
These results indicate that the Marsilea quadrifolia linn plant
possess significant anti–diabetic activity.
Keywords: Antidiabetic activity; Marsilea
quadrifolia; glucose; glibenclamide.
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes mellitus
is a major disease characterized by derangement in carbohydrate, fat and
protein metabolism, affecting nearly 10% of the population. In the recent many
hypoglycemic agents are introduced, still the diabetes and the related
complications continue to be a major medical problem not only in developed
countries but also in developing countries. Many Indian medicinal plants are
reported to be useful in diabetes 1,2. However, search for new
anti-diabetic drugs continue.
Marsilea quadrifolia linn
(Family-Marsileaceae) is a shrub or small tree
available in
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Plant
Material:
The shrub or
small tree of Marsilea quadrifolia
linn were collected from University campus of
Methanol
Extract:
The
small tree dried powder (80gm) was extracted with Methanol (65-67.5°C) by
continuous hot percolation process using Soxhlet apparatus. The extraction was
continued until the extraction was completed. After completion of extraction it
was filtered and the solvent was removed by distillation under reduced
pressure. The residue was then stored in desiccator
(12gm).
Aqueous
Extract:
The marc left after methanol extraction was
dried and extracted with 1.5 lit. of Chloroform water (0.25% Chloroform) by
cold maceration process, in a narrow mouth bottle for 4 days. After completion
of extraction, it was filtered and the solvent was removed by evaporation to
dryness. The residue was then stored in desiccator
(10gm).
|
Group |
Dose |
Blood Glucose Level
mg/dl
|
|||
|
0 Hrs |
24Hrs |
48 Hrs |
72Hrs |
||
|
Normal Control |
- |
87.6±2.34 |
95.0±3.96 |
96.88±3.99 |
87.3±2.06 |
|
Diabetic Control |
100mg/kg |
230.0±6.67 |
226.3±4.75 |
231.5±3.24 |
223.16±5.67 |
|
Methanol Extract |
200mg/kg |
236.3±1.38 |
208.3±1.78 |
164.6±1.38 |
155.0±1.77** |
|
Aqueous Extract |
200mg/kg |
234.4±3.02 |
218.6±2.39 |
163.66±1.70 |
144.3±1.35** |
|
Glibenclamide |
5mg/kg |
236.0±1.63 |
221.5±2.39 |
163.3±1.76 |
140.16±1.32 |
*Indicates significance in comparison to Diabetic
control group, * P<0.05 (Significant), **P<0.01 (Highly significant),
P>0.05
(Non Significant), Values are Mean±SEM; n =6
Test
Animals
Normally healthy adult wistar
strain rats of either sex weighing of 150-200gm were used in the experiment.
Animals maintained under standard environmental conditions, were fed with a
standard diet and water ad libitum. The animals were
fasted for 18h prior to the experimentation, but allowed free access to water
only.
The experimental protocol has been approved by the
Institutional Animals Ethics committee
Study of the
Aqueous and Methanol Extracts in Diabetic Rats:
Rats
fasted for at least 18h received alloxan monohydrate
(ALX) 100 mg/kg i.p. The diabetic state was assessed
and stabilized by blood glucose level 72 h after 4. Animals which
found glucose level between 200-250 mg/dl were considered as a diabetic and
used for experimental work.
The rats were
divided into five groups of six rats each. Group I served as a normal control
and received saline water (3ml/kg). Group II served as diabetic control.
Group III and IV
received methanol and aqueous extracts respectively as a dose of 200mg/kg body
weight orally. Group V received standard drug Glibenclamide
(5 mg/kg).
Blood samples
were collected by retro-orbital plexus of rats in each group, after at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of the oral
administration of the drug. The samples were collected into glass vials
containing a small quantity of a mixture of potassium oxalate and sodium
Fluoride as anticoagulant 5. They were stored at 40c in
refrigerator before the analysis of blood glucose level by using the glucose oxidase peroxidase enzymatic
method 6. Blood was analyzed in Neela
diagnostic center at Annamalai Nagar.
Statistical
Analysis:
The results are
expressed as Mean ± S.E.M. (standard error of mean) the significant of
various treatments was calculated using students t-test and were considered
statistically significant when P< 0.05.
RESULT:
The treatment with aqueous,
methanol extract (200mg/kg) and Glibenclamide
(5mg/kg) caused a significant reduction of the hyperglycemia as compared to
diabetic control after 72h. Thus methanol reduced hyperglycemia by 69.45 % and
aqueous by 64.66 % respectively, When compared with diabetic control. The Glibenclimide (5mg/kg) reduced the hyperglycemia by 62.80
%. (Table No. 1)
The main
characteristics of diabetes mellitus are polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia, weight
loss, muscle weakness and hyperglycemia 7. This work evaluated
biochemical parameter plasma glucose in experimental diabetes caused by alloxan in rats.
The unique capacity
of alloxan to selectively destroy the pancreatic beta
cells was first described by Dunn et al., 1943 8. These
investigators examined the nephrotoxicity of uric
acid derivatives in the rabbit and found accidentally that alloxan
caused the destruction of the majority of pancreatic beta cells. Subsequently, alloxan administration has been found to lead to
long-lasting diabetes in many animal species. The site at which alloxan interacts with the cell membrane is uncertain 9.
In the present work we showed
that the methanol and aqueous extract reduced the blood glucose level in
diabetic rats but value did not return to those of normal controls. Among the
two extracts Aqueous extract possess excellent antidiabetic
activity whereas Methanol extract possess significant antidiabetic
activity, when compared with diabetic control.
These observations will
stimulate further research in these fields and also in the clinical
applications of the phytochemical constituent of the
plant. (Figure No. 1)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors are
grateful for the Aspm’s K.T.Patil.College.Of
Pharmacy Osmanabad for encouraging and providing
research facilities.
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4. Gupta NP, Solis NG,
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lobata. Journal of Ethanopharmacology.
1984; 10: 323-327.
5. Cleide de Sousa Lino; Joao Paulo Luz Diógenes;
Bruno Azevedo Pereira; Antidiabetic
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27(1): 125—127
6. Trinder P, 1969. Annals of
clinical Biochemistry.6: 24.
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1996, p. 283.
8. Dunn JS, Mclechie NGB. Lancet. 1943; 2:
384.
9.
Luz MMS,
Received on 03.03.2009
Accepted on 22.05.2009
© A&V Publication all right reserved
Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 1(1): July.-Aug. 2009, 15-17