Search

Repeated (over 7 days) intranasal introduction of the Pro-Gly-Pro-Leu peptide into animals at a dose of 1 mg/kg before injection of the diabetogenic metabolite alloxan provided effective protection of an organism against development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and prevented development of hyper-coagulating alterations in the system of hemostasis. An increasing in the anticoagulating and fibrinolytic activities in rat blood plasma was detected. The peptide under study also showed antidiabetogenic action: repeated intranasal introduction of the Pro-Gly-Pro-Leu peptide into animals for 7 days inhibited development of diabetes symptoms in rats pretreated with alloxan.

The hypoglycemic effect in humans of Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf powder has, to date, been poorly investigated. We assessed the chemical composition of MO leaf powder produced at Saharawi refugee camps, its in vitro ability to inhibit α-amylase activity, and its sensory acceptability in food. We then evaluated its effect on postprandial glucose response by randomly administering, on 2 different days, a traditional meal supplemented with 20 g of MO leaf powder (MOR20), or not (control meal, CNT), to 17 Saharawi diabetics and 10 healthy subjects. Capillary glycaemia was measured immediately before the meal and then at 30 min intervals for 3 h. In the diabetic subjects the postprandial glucose response peaked earlier with MOR20 compared to CNT and with lower increments at 90, 120, and 150 min. The mean glycemic meal response with MOR20 was lower than with CNT. The healthy subjects showed no differences. Thus, MO leaf powder could be a hypoglycemic herbal drug. However, given the poor taste acceptability of the 20 g MO meal, lower doses should be evaluated. Moreover, the hypoglycemic effects of MO leaf powder should also be demonstrated by trials evaluating its long-term effects on glycaemia.

A water extract of the Oriental crude drug “shikon”, LITHOSPERMUM ERYTHRORHIZON roots, remarkably diminished the plasma sugar level in mice. Fractionation of the extract by monitoring the activity yielded three glycans, lithospermans A, B and C. These glycans exerted marked hypoglycemic effects in normal and alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice.

An aqueous methanol/water extract of the Oriental crude drug “bushi”, ACONITUM CARMICHAELI roots from Japan, markedly reduced the blood sugar level in mice. Activity-guided fractionation of the extract furnished four glycans, aconitans A, B, C and D. These glycans exhibited prominent hypoglycemic effects in normal and alloxan-produced hyperglycemic mice.

Administration of an aqueous methanol/water extract of the Oriental crude drug “maō” (Ephedra), EPHEDRA DISTACHYA herbs, caused transient hyperglycemia followed by long lasting hypoglycemia in mice. Activity-guided fractionation of the extract led to isolation of five glycans, ephedrans A, B, C, D and E, which exhibited significant hypoglycemic effects in normal and alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice.

A water extract of the Oriental crude drug “yokui-nin” (coix seeds), COIX LACHRYMA-JOBI var, MA-YUEN seeds, disclosed a marked hypoglycemic action when administered to mice. Fractionation of the extract, by monitoring the pharmacological activity, led to isolation of three glycans, coixans A, B and C. These components elicited remarkable hypoglycemic effects in normal and hyperglycemic mice treated with alloxan.

Evaluation of hypoglycemic and antitumor effects of some heteroglycans from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies. In mice, most of the heteroglycans exhibited hypoglycemic effects whose potencies, however, were rather weak as compared with those of ganoderans. Further, the potencies of these hypoglycemic effects were found to be not in parallel with those of the antitumor effects against sarcoma 180 in mice

Insulin-induced posthypoglycemic hyperglycemia is an important cause of poorly controlled diabetes.1This phenomenon, which is known as the Somogyi effect, is characterized by the following: (1) insulin-induced hypoglycemia and a rebound insulinresistant hyperglycemia; (2) negative urine tests for sugar and ketones, followed within several hours by substantial glycosuria and variable ketonuria; (3) wide daily fluctuations in blood glucose levels that are generally unrelated to dietary intake; (4) periods of mild hypothermia; and (5) nocturnal sweating and nightmares in patients with late-onset hypoglycemic effects. Although this clinical phenomenon was described initially by Somogyi and Kirstein,2confirmed by numerous investigators,3-6and thoroughly defined by Bloom et al,7the basic mechanism underlying the compensatory insulin-resistant, hyperglycemia remains unexplained. A general consensus appears to have formed ascribing an important role for anterior hypophyseal hormones, particularly growth hormone, in the pathogenesis of the rebound hyperglycemia.1.8-10This present case report demonstrates