Research article summary (published 31 Aug 2003):

The juice of fresh leaves of Catharanthus roseus Linn. reduces blood glucose in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The leaf juice or water decoction of Catharanthus roseus L. (Apocyanaceae) is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes all over the world. In the present investigation, the leaf juice of C. roseus has been evaluated for its hypoglycemic activity in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. METHODS: The blood glucose lowering activity of the leaf juice was studied in normal and alloxan-induced (100 mg/kg, i.v.) diabetic rabbits, after oral administration at doses of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 ml/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected from the marginal ear vein before and also at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20 & 24 h after drug administration and blood glucose was analyzed by Nelson-Somogyi's method using a visible spectrophotometer. The data was compared statistically by using Student's t-test. RESULTS: The leaf juice of C. roseus produced dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose of both normal and diabetic rabbits and comparable with that of the standard drug, glibenclamide. The results indicate a prolonged action in reduction of blood glucose by C. roseus and the mode of action of the active compound(s) of C. roseus is probably mediated through enhance secretion of insulin from the beta-cells of Langerhans or through extrapancreatic mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: The present study clearly indicated a significant antidiabetic activity with the leaf juice of Catharanthus roseus and supports the traditional usage of the fresh leaves by Ayurvedic physicians for the control of diabetes.

Author information

Author/s: Nammi, Srinivas (S); Boini, Murthy K (MK); Lodagala, Srinivas D (SD); Behara, Ravindra Babu S (RB);

Affiliation: Pharmacology Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530 003, Andhra Pradesh, India. nammi(-atsign-)rediffmail.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: BMC complementary and alternative medicine (BMC Complement Altern Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Sep; vol 3 (issue ) : pp 4

Dates: Created 2003/10/29; Completed 2003/11/25; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 12950994, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Alloxan Animals Blood Glucose - drug effects Catharanthus Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - chemically induced; drug therapy Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

Glyburide - pharmacology Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; therapeutic use Phytotherapy Plant Extracts - pharmacology; therapeutic use Plant Leaves Rabbits

Associated Chemicals: Blood Glucose (0) ; Catharanthus roseus Linn. extract (0) ; Hypoglycemic Agents (0) ; Plant Extracts (0) ; Glyburide (10238-21-8) ; Alloxan (50-71-5)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Effect of an antidiabetic extract of Catharanthus roseus on enzymic activities in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. 30 Jul 2001
• Hypoglycemic effect of Catharanthus roseus in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 29 Jun 2007
• Catharanthus roseus L. plants and explants infected with phytoplasmas: alkaloid production and structural observations. 2 Mar 2004
• Development of a novel system for producing ajmalicine and serpentine using direct culture of leaves in Catharanthus roseus intact plant. 27 Feb 2005
• Rapid and non-invasive detection of plants senescence using a delayed fluorescence technique. 4 Mar 2007
• Evaluation of wound-healing potential of Catharanthus roseus leaf extract in rats. 2 Jul 2007
• Production of anthocyanins by Catharanthus roseus. 30 Jan 2003
• Peroxidase from Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don and the biosynthesis of alpha-3',4'-anhydrovinblastine: a specific role for a multifunctional enzyme. 30 Aug 2003
• Sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma in tissue culture: long-term maintenance, transmission, and oxytetracycline remission. 5 Aug 2004

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.