BACKGROUND: Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. (Thymelaeaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Morocco to treat diabetes. In previous studies T. hirsuta has shown a potent antihyperglycemic effect. Our aim was to study the effect of the plant on α-glucosidase inhibition and intestinal glucose absorption. METHODS: Five fractions of T. hirsuta were tested, in vitro, in vivo and, in situ, to elucidate the inhibition of α-glucosidase and intestinal glucose uptake. RESULTS: The fractions induced, in vitro, a significant inhibition of α-glucosidase. The ethyl acetate fraction (EATh) had high activity and its inhibition mode was non-competitive. The EATh at 50 and 100 mg/kg doses, decreased significantly, in vivo, the postprandial hyperglycemia after sucrose loading in normal and diabetic mice. Moreover, 50 mg/kg of EATh significantly decreased intestinal glucose uptake, in situ, in rats. CONCLUSION: The antihyperglycemic effect of T. hirsuta can be explained, in part, by the inhibition of intestinal α-glucosidase and intestinal glucose absorption.
BACKGROUND:Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. (Thymelaeaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Morocco to treat diabetes. In previous studies T. hirsuta has shown a potent antihyperglycemic effect. Our aim was to study the effect of the plant on α-glucosidase inhibition and intestinal glucose absorption. METHODS: Five fractions of T. hirsuta were tested, in vitro, in vivo and, in situ, to elucidate the inhibition of α-glucosidase and intestinal glucose uptake. RESULTS: The fractions induced, in vitro, a significant inhibition of α-glucosidase. The ethyl acetate fraction (EATh) had high activity and its inhibition mode was non-competitive. The EATh at 50 and 100 mg/kg doses, decreased significantly, in vivo, the postprandial hyperglycemia after sucrose loading in normal and diabeticmice. Moreover, 50 mg/kg of EATh significantly decreased intestinal glucose uptake, in situ, in rats. CONCLUSION: The antihyperglycemic effect of T. hirsuta can be explained, in part, by the inhibition of intestinal α-glucosidase and intestinal glucose absorption.
Authors: Nor Adlin Yusoff; Mariam Ahmad; Bassel Al-Hindi; Tri Widyawati; Mun Fei Yam; Roziahanim Mahmud; Khairul Niza Abdul Razak; Mohd Zaini Asmawi Journal: Nutrients Date: 2015-08-20 Impact factor: 5.717