Endocrine Abstracts

Studies in our laboratories have demonstrated that some herbal extracts exert hypoglycaemic effects via unclear mechanism(s). Since the extracts did not have any significant effects on plasma insulin concentration, we speculated that they interfered with food intake and/or absorption to reduce blood glucose concentration. Accordingly, we monitored the amounts of food consumed and body weights in separate groups of non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats orally trea...

We have previously attributed the hypoglycaemic effects of Syzygium cordatum leaf extract to crude ethyl acetate extract solubles (EAS) containing triterpenoid compounds. The present study was designed to isolate and characterize triterpene components EAS and investigate the antihyperglycaemic effects alone or in combination with insulin in non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. EAS soluble extracts were obtained after defatting the S. cordatum<...

Previous studies from our laboratories indicate that the anti-diabetic effects of Syzygium cordatum (Hochst.) (Myrtaceae) leaf extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats may be attributed in part to mixtures of triterpenes, oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA). For the bioactive compounds to have potential in diabetes management, they should also alleviate or prevent complications of diabetes mellitus; kidney function and cardiovascular disorders. This study i...

Available evidence suggests that Sclerocarya birrea stem-bark extract (SBE) which possesses hypoglycaemic activity may be useful in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus. Since diabetes is associated with cardiovascular and kidney complications, we investigated the influence of SBE on blood glucose, blood pressure and renal function in some experimental animal paradigms. For OGTT tests, separate groups (n=6 in each group) of non-diabetic and streptozo...

The hypoglycaemic effect of Syzygium (i) cordatum (i) leaf extract was studied in non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The crude was subjected to column chromatography and spectroscopic analysis. Non-diabetic and STZ-diabetic rats were orally administered glucose (1.4 g.100 kg-1 (super -1) body weight) followed by extract (6 mg.100-1g (super -1) body weight). Weekly plasma glucose and terminal hepatic glycogen concentrations were recorded in control STZ...