Study on Extra-pancreatic Action of Asteracantha Longifolia in Long-Evans Rats

Abstract

Ethanolic extract of Asteracantha longifolia have been used to investigate anti-diabetic activity in Long Evans rats. The plant extract was subjected to anti-diabetic study through assessing Disaccharidase activity and six segment method which was performed to assess the amount of sucrose remaining in the GIT at six different positions. In Six Segment method, the amount of sucrose unabsorbed in different GIT segments were evaluated in control rats vs. rats fed with 100mg/kg extract at 30 minutes, 1hour, and 2hour. In assessing the effect of the plant materials on intestinal disaccharidase activity, the amount of unabsorbed sucrose in Pancreatic Enzymes are evaluated in control rats vs rats fed with 100mg/kg extract .The extract caused a significant (p<0.05), dose dependent inhibition of glucose absorption and showed hypoglycemic effects in Long-Evans rats weighing about 100-200 gm. The anti-diabetic effects were estimated by measuring the amount of glucose in the samples collected after the experiment. In conclusion, these observations provide evidence and possible mechanisms of action for the anti-diabetic properties of plant Asteracantha longifolia claimed in Ayurveda medicine.