Yerima M, Anuka J A, Salawu O A, Abdu-Aguye I
Pak J Biol Sci. 2014 Feb 1;17(3):414-8. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2014.414.418.
Diabetes is the most common endocrine disease and its prevalence is reaching epidemic proportion worldwide. In 2002, WHO Expert Committee on diabetes mellitus recommended an urgent and further evaluation of the folkloric methods of managing the disease. In response to this recommendation, several medicinal plants are currently being investigated for their hypoglycaemic activity and one of such plants is Tamarindus indica. Tamarindus indica is a slow growing tree that is resistant to strong winds and perennial. The stem-bark extract of the plant is used locally for the management of diabetes. The stem-bark extract of Tamarindus indica L. was investigated for its hypoglycemic action on experimentally induced hyperglycaemic Wistar rats using a single dose of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg kg(-1) IP). The oral LD50 of the extract was found to be greater than 5,000 mg kg(-1). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, alkaloids and triterpenes. The 1000 mg kg(-1) dose of the extract lowered the blood glucose level significantly (p < 0.05) at the 4th, 8th and 16th h. The 500 mg kg(-1) lowered the BGL significantly (p < 0.05) throughout the study. In the oral glucose load method the 1000 mg kg(-1) dose of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) lowered elevated blood glucose at the 3rd and 5th. The 500 mg kg(-1) lowered the blood glucose from the 1st to the 5th, while the 250 mg kg(-1) also lowered the blood glucose level but only significantly at the 5th h. The extract is practically non toxic when administered orally. The stem-bark extract of Tamarindus indica Linn significantly lowered elevated Blood Glucose concentration (BGL) in the experimental animal models, while the crude extract was able to prevent an elevation in BGL when used in the oral glucose load model.
糖尿病是最常见的内分泌疾病，其患病率在全球正呈流行趋势。2002年，世界卫生组织糖尿病专家委员会建议对治疗该疾病的民间方法进行紧急且进一步的评估。针对这一建议，目前正在对几种药用植物的降血糖活性展开研究，罗望子就是其中之一。罗望子是一种生长缓慢、抗强风的多年生树木。该植物的茎皮提取物在当地用于治疗糖尿病。使用单剂量一水合四氧嘧啶（150 mg kg⁻¹腹腔注射），对实验性诱导的高血糖Wistar大鼠研究了罗望子（Tamarindus indica L.）茎皮提取物的降血糖作用。提取物的口服半数致死量大于5000 mg kg⁻¹。植物化学筛选显示存在碳水化合物、糖苷、皂苷、黄酮类、强心苷、单宁、生物碱和三萜类。提取物剂量为1000 mg kg⁻¹时，在第4、8和16小时显著降低血糖水平（p < 0.05）。500 mg kg⁻¹剂量在整个研究过程中显著降低血糖水平（p < 0.05）。在口服葡萄糖负荷法中，提取物剂量为1000 mg kg⁻¹时，在第3和5小时显著（p < 0.05）降低升高的血糖。500 mg kg⁻¹剂量从第1小时到第5小时降低血糖，而250 mg kg⁻¹剂量也降低血糖水平，但仅在第5小时显著降低。口服给药时，该提取物实际无毒。罗望子（Tamarindus indica Linn）的茎皮提取物在实验动物模型中显著降低升高的血糖浓度（BGL），而粗提取物在口服葡萄糖负荷模型中使用时能够防止血糖升高。
