Biochemistry & Pharmacology: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0501
ISSN: 2167-0501
Swarna D. Hapuarachchi, T. S. Suresh, W. T. P. S. K. Senerath
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Biochem & Pharmacol
Munronia pinnata (wall) Theob. (Family-Maliaceae) locally called as ? Bin kohomba ? is one of the most demanded herbs in the Sri Lankan drug market which is listed under threatened category due to overexploitation. Hence, there is an urgent need to adopt ex situ conservation methods via in vitro propagation techniques. The possible use of calli as a substitute for whole plants has been quarried. Despite its long record of usage in indigenous clinical practices, biological activities of M. pinnata have not been investigated so far. The purpose of the present study was thus to compare the hypoglycaemic effect of aqueous extracts of natural plant (MPaq) and calli (MPCaq) of M. pinnata in alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats. Three leaflet types of natural plants and 3- months? old calli of Munronia pinnata were used for the preparation of aqueous extracts. Both extracts were administered to healthy and diabetic Wistar rats with different doses. Hypoglycaemic activity was determined with standard anti diabetic drug and ayurvedic anti diabetic plants S. reticulata and A. panicula . Acute and chronic toxicity studies of both extracts were carried out in healthy rats. Both aqueous extracts comparatively maintain the serum glucose level like standard anti diabetic drugs and established ayurvedic anti diabetic plants. There was a 22% reduction in the serum glucose concentration of diabetic rats of MPCaq as same as glibenclamide group and 29 % (P <0.001) reduction of MPaq compared to the control group.
Swarna D. Hapuarachchi, is a senior Lecturer in Department of Materia Medica, Institute Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She got BAMS from Institute of Indigenous Medicne, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, (1990), M.D. (Materia Medica) from Banaras Hindu University, India (1998) and M.Sc. (Plant Sciences) University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2007). She has established a tissue culture laboratory in her institute in order to carry out further studies on tissue cultured plants and natural plants and also their biological activities. At present, she is preparing for Ph.D. at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.