Evaluation of [alpha]-Glucosidase Inhibitory Effect of 50% Ethanolic Standardized Extract of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth in Normal and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 2015
• Main Authors: Elsnoussi Ali Mohamed, Ahmad, Mariam, Lee Fung Ang, Mohd. Zaini Asmawi, Yam, Mun Fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Hindawi Limited 01-01-2015
• Subjects: Glucose; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Metabolic disorders; Rodents
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/754931

In the present study, a 50% ethanolic extract of Orthosiphon stamineus was tested for its α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. In vivo assays of the extract (containing 1.02%, 3.76%, and 3.03% of 3[variant prime]hydroxy-5,6,7,4[variant prime]-tetramethoxyflavone, sinensetin, and eupatorin, resp.) showed that it possessed an inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase in normal rats loaded with starch and sucrose. The results showed that 1000 mg/kg of the 50% ethanolic extract of O. stamineus significantly ( P < 0.05 ) decreased the plasma glucose levels of the experimental animals in a manner resembling the effect of acarbose. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, only the group treated with 1000 mg/kg of the extract showed significantly ( P < 0.05 ) lower plasma glucose levels after starch loading. Hence, α-glucosidase inhibition might be one of the mechanisms by which O. stamineus extract exerts its antidiabetic effect. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the 50% ethanolic extract of O. stamineus can be considered as a potential agent for the management of diabetes mellitus.