Search

SummaryMacerated decoction extracts of Zea styles exert consistent hypoglycemic effects in fasting rabbits provided they are administered parenterally. Repeated daily subcutaneous administration of the extract to non-fasting rabbits produces even fatal hypoglycemia. The statistical pattern of the hypoglycemic effect of Zea styles compares well with that of crystalline insulin and the distribution is of the gaussian normal curve. The concomitant toxic effects of the hypoglycemic extract, especially when administered intravenously, cannot be accounted for by its blood sugar reducing principle since we could separate the toxic effect from the blood sugar reducing effect.

The introduction of the orally active hypoglycemic agents has already had a profound effect on the therapy of diabetes. Unfortunately, despite a great deal of discussion in the literature, there is still much about these drugs which is uncertain and unsettled and, in general, information about their limitations is not so widely spread as claims for their utility. Although the modern era of interest in oral hypoglycemic agents began about 40 years ago with the association of this effect with the guanidines, it was first observed and confirmed more than 80 years ago as the result of salicylate therapy. Hypoglycemic effects have been noted after the oral administration of such unrelated materials as (1) sulfonamides and sulfonylureas (e.g., tolbutamide), (2) guanidines (e.g., synathalin A), (3) extracts of the akee plant (hypoglycin A and B), and (4) salicylates. It is also reasonable to suppose that more are on their way. The state of our knowledge of the modes of action of the several groups of orally active hypoglycemic agents based on clinical and experimental observations as well as their clinical uses, limitations, and dangers are discussed.

Capsule Gurmar is a new polyherbal Unani formulation developed by the R&D department of Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh for management and treatment of diabetes. This study was aimed to investigate the chemical constituents and analgesic, antioxidant, neuropharmacological, cytotoxic, and hypoglycemic properties of the formulation using standard methods. Phytochemical tests on the hydromethanolic extract of the contents of the capsules showed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins in the formulation. When tested by acetic acid-induced Writhing test, the extract at higher dose (400mg/kg) showed mild analgesic activity compared to standard drug Diclofenac-Na (10mg/kg). But, by Tail immersion method, the extract at the same dose showed moderate analgesic activity compared to the standard drug, Nalbuphine at 10mg/kg body weight. The Gurmar capsule extract exhibited high total antioxidant capacity (622.326 mg/g) and had high flavonoid (386.43 mg/g) and phenol (184.60 mg/g) contents. In the Hole cross and Open field tests, the extract displayed significant suppression of locomotor activity and exploratory behaviour of the mice. When subjected to Brine shrimp Lethality Bioassay, the extract was found to be significantly toxic to Brine shrimp nauplii (having L50 value of 3.16μg/ml). Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) demonstrated quite strong hypoglycemic activity of the formulation, which significantly lowered the blood glucose level of the treated mice both at doses of 100 mg and 200mg/kg body weight. The hypoglycemic effect was comparable to that of the standard oral hypoglycemic drug, Metformin hydrochloride at the dose of 100mg/kg. These results indicate that Capsule Gurmar possesses mild analgesic, antioxidant, CNS depressant, cytotoxic, and hypoglycemic properties. Key words: capsule Gurmar; chemical constituents; pharmacological properties; hypoglycemic effects. DOI: 10.3329/sjps.v3i1.6794S. J. Pharm. Sci. 3(1): 18-27

BECAUSE of the increasing use of the sulfourea drugs in the treatment of diabetes1 2 3 it has become important to study the long-term effects of these compounds. The evidence thus far obtained suggests that after administration of a single dose of the sulfourea drugs, insulin is released into the pancreatic vein.4 The sulfourea drugs have likewise been shown to have hypoglycemic effects in the totally depancreatized animal treated with suboptimal doses of insulin.5 If the sulfourea drugs stimulate the beta cells in the islands of Langerhans of the pancreas, their prolonged administration could have deleterious effects on the islands similar to . . .

Normal and hypophysectomized rats, either in the fed or fasted state, were treated with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to determine whether the acute decline in plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and glucose in response to growth hormone (GH) administration could be modified by nutritional status and the presence of the pituitary. Both 1- and 3-mg. doses of BGH caused a plasma FFA diminution at 30 and 22 minutes, respectively, in hypophysectomized rats fasted for 24 hours. The hypolipemia observed with either dose of BGH was associated with an early fall in plasma glucose. The plasma glucose, however, did not subsequently return to normal levels during the 1-hour experimental period, as was the case with plasma FFA. At the higher dose of BGH plasma, FFA were markedly elevated above control levels at 1 hour, a condition indicative of the well-documented, secondary, hyper-lipemic response to GH treatment. The acute hypolipemic and hypoglycemic responses to BGH were not altered when hypophysectomized rats were used following a 42-hour fast. Hypophysectomized rats, which were not fasted, however, only exhibited the hypoglycemic response to BGH treatment; no alterations in plasma FFA levels were observed in these animals. Normal rats, either fed or fasted, showed neither the decline in plasma FFA nor of glucose following treatment with BGH. The time course of the acute hypolipemic and hypoglycemic effects of BGH in rats, when determined under the appropriate conditions of hypophysectomy and fasting, were further demonstrated to be functions of the preparation of BGH used.

Considerable research work has been done to improve insulin preparations in terms of controlled onset and duration of action [l-5] . However, despite the various types of insulin preparations available for therapy, it may still be of some interest to follow new ideas in this field. Thus, based on Katchalski’s work [6] and our own observations with enzymes and other biological active peptides covalentLy linked to synthetic polymers [7], we prepared a water soluble insulin-polyacrylate compound (I-PA).

The use of acid citrate dextrose (ACD) blood for exchange transfusion results in the delivery of a high glucose load because of the dextrose component of the ACD preservative. The hypoglycemic effects of the insulin response so achieved become apparent in the immediate postexchange period. It is suggested that apneic spells and/or convulsions in the initial hours following otherwise uneventful ACD exchanges may be due to this reactive hypoglycemia, an event exaggerated in infants who are hypoglycemic to begin with.