Himalayan Pharmacy Institute, Majhitar, Rangpo, East Sikkim 737136, India.
Pharm Biol. 2011 Jun;49(6):577-82. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2010.529615. Epub 2011 Feb 1.
Erythrina variegata Linn. (Fabaceae), commonly known as Tiger's Claw, is a thorny deciduous tree grown in tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Africa, Southern Asia, and Northern Australia. In India, its leaves are traditionally used for diabetes mellitus.
To evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of methanol extract of E. variegata leaf (MEEV) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats.
Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg body weight). Three days after STZ induction, the hyperglycemic rats were treated with MEEV orally at the doses of 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg body weight daily for 21 days. Glibenclamide (1 mg/kg, orally) was used as reference drug. The fasting blood glucose levels were measured on every 7th day during the 21 days of treatment. Serum biochemical parameters including lipid content were estimated.
MEEV at the doses of 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg orally significantly (P < 0.01) and dose-dependently reduced and normalized blood glucose levels as compared to that of STZ control group; the dose 900 mg/kg being the most potent showing complete normalization of blood glucose levels. Serum biochemical parameters including lipid profile were significantly (P < 0.01) restored toward normal levels in META-treated rats as compared to STZ control animals.
This study concludes that E. variegata leaf demonstrated promising hypoglycemic action in STZ-induced diabetic rats substantiating its ethnomedicinal use.
夹竹桃科植物鸡冠刺桐（Fabaceae），俗称虎爪，是一种多刺的落叶树，生长在东非、南亚和澳大利亚北部的热带和亚热带地区。在印度，其叶子传统上用于治疗糖尿病。
评估鸡冠刺桐叶甲醇提取物（MEEV）对链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导的糖尿病 Wistar 大鼠的降血糖活性。
通过单次腹腔注射 STZ（55mg/kg 体重）诱导大鼠高血糖。STZ 诱导后 3 天，用 MEEV 以 300、600 和 900mg/kg 体重的剂量口服治疗高血糖大鼠，每天一次，共 21 天。格列本脲（1mg/kg，口服）用作参考药物。在 21 天的治疗期间，每 7 天测量一次空腹血糖水平。估计血清生化参数，包括脂质含量。
与 STZ 对照组相比，MEEV 以 300、600 和 900mg/kg 体重的剂量口服显著（P<0.01）和剂量依赖性地降低和正常化血糖水平；900mg/kg 体重的剂量最为有效，显示出血糖水平的完全正常化。与 STZ 对照动物相比，META 治疗大鼠的血清生化参数，包括脂质谱，均显著（P<0.01）恢复到正常水平。
本研究表明，鸡冠刺桐叶在 STZ 诱导的糖尿病大鼠中显示出有希望的降血糖作用，证实了其在传统医学中的应用。
