RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: There is a growing need to develop new drugs for type II diabetes mellitus (DM) from plant sources due to the high cost and adverse side effects of current drug therapies. To this end, the antidiabetic activity of aqueous stem-bark extract of A. polycarpa (APE) in alloxan-induced diabetic ICR mice was investigated. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The effect of APE (20, 100 and 500 mg/kg), glibenclamide and metformin as positive controls, were determined over 4 weeks on fasting blood glucose (FBG). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also conducted. The effects of these treatments on the morphology of the pancreas were assessed. In addition, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of APE were determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: APE, like glibenclamide and metformin, showed significant hypoglycaemic effect. The OGTT supported the hypoglycaemic effect. The destroyed pancreatic beta-cells in diabetic control mice were restored to normal by APE or drug treatment. APE showed antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH free radicals; this may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids. Thus, APE may act by restoring pancreatic beta-cell integrity through mopping of reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with the diabetic state, and thereby improving pancreatic function and consequently, the lowering of FBG levels. These findings provide ample evidence to validate the traditional use of A. polycarpa in the management of DM.
RESUMEN
Mist Antiaris is a herbal decoction for treatment of nervous disorders. Safety and efficacy were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats and human patients, respectively. Acute toxicity was assessed by administration of a single 5000 mg/kg oral dose of decoction to a group of six rats. For subchronic toxicity, four groups of six rats each received water (control) or 10, 100, or 200 mg/kg oral doses of decoction daily for eight weeks. Body weight, serum, urine, and hematological profile of the animals in each group were monitored over the period. Effects of treatment on pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and histology of liver, lung, heart, and kidney tissue were assessed at the end of the study. There was no evidence of acute toxicity within 48 hours of the oral dose. Over the 8-week period, body weight increases in Mist Antiaris treatment groups were reduced relative to the control group. There were no significant differences in urine profile, serum biochemistry, hematological parameters, and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. Tissue histology revealed no differences relative to controls. Assessment of efficacy was by retrospective review of data on patients who presented with peripheral neuropathy. Treatment resulted in 53.7 % of patients reporting complete resolution and 15.7 % showing reduction in neuropathic symptoms. The data demonstrate that there is no toxicity due to subchronic administration of Mist Antiaris in Sprague-Dawley rats. The reduction or resolution of neuropathic symptoms indicated by patents' file data provides evidence to suggest that Mist Antiaris has antineuropathic effects.