EFFECT OF VITIS VINIFERA LEAF EXTRACT ON BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RABBITS.

Abstract

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disturbance due to deficiency of insulin secretion, its action or combination of both. The deficiency of insulin causes persistent hyperglycemia leading to disturbance of carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. It is the most common endocrine disease and about 422 million people have this order throughout the world by the year 2021. The diabetes mellitus is responsible for 1.5 million deaths each year. The number of cases has been increasing over the past few decades. The oral hypoglycemic drugs consist of sulphonylureas, biguanides, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, α-glucosidase inhibitors, DPP-IV inhibitors, GLP-1–receptor agonist, amylin analogues, D2 dopamine receptor agonist and SGLT2 inhibitors. Most of the plants show hypoglycemic activity when taken orally and clinical trials are recommended to establish real dosage schedule for these less expensive and relative toxic effects free of drugs from medicinal plants.

Objective

To investigate the effect of alcoholic extracts from Vitis vinifera leaves on the blood sugar levels of both healthy and alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits.

Material and Methods

The alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Vitis vinifera were given in doses of 50 mg/Kg, 100 mg/Kg, 150 mg/Kg and 200 mg/Kg were given to alloxan treated diabetic rabbits. The blood glucose levels were estimated before and 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after administration of the extract.

Results

The alcoholic extract of the leaves of Vitis vinifera did not show any significant (P >0.05) effect on blood glucose levels of alloxan induced diabetic rabbits. From this study, it may be concluded that leaves of Vitis vinifera have no value in the treatment of diabetic patients having no functioning β-pancreatic cells.

Conclusion

The leaf extract of Vitis vinifera induces hypoglycemia in normoglycemic individuals, but it does not have the same effect in alloxan-induced diabetic experimental subjects. The mechanism of action of Vitis vinifera appears to be similar to that of sulphonylureas, which also trigger hypoglycemia in normoglycemic animals.

Key words:  Vitis vinifera, Alloxan, Diabetes mellitus, Plant extract.