@article {2040, title = {Antidiabetic and Hypoglycaemic Activities of Commonly Used African Traditional Vegetables}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {June 2023}, pages = {339-356}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {339}, abstract = {

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a common and complex metabolic disorder associated with high blood glucose levels leading to complications. Adopting a sedentary lifestyle characterized by low physical activity and consumption of high-energy diets contributes to the development of diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle changes and the use of pharmacological agents that target particular biochemical pathways involved in nutrient metabolism are currently used as management guidelines for managing risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus. The use of prescription medications for an extended period is linked to several negative side effects. Alternative management strategies of risk factors linked to diabetes mellitus involve the use of African leafy vegetables. African leafy vegetables contain a variety of biologically active compounds that provide health benefits. These crops have the potential to be a valuable source of new oral hypoglycemic agents for diabetes management. This review analyses the antidiabetic activities of nine African leafy vegetables whilst also defining the gap areas for future research. Methods: Data was acquired via electronic search engines of which only peer-reviewed papers published in journals were considered. Results: African traditional vegetables showed diverse in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activities. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to document and use the knowledge of African leafy vegetables that have potential in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus.

}, keywords = {African traditional vegetables, Antidiabetic, Diabetes mellitus, Hypoglycaemic, Phytochemicals.}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2023.15.84}, author = {Nolitha Nkobole and Lavhelesani R. Managa and Gerhard Prinsloo} } @article {874, title = {In-vitro Anti-diabetic and Antioxidant Efficacy of Methanolic Extract of Encephalartos ferox leaves}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {May 2019}, pages = {455-460}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {455}, abstract = {

Background: Diabetes mellitus has been identified as one of the global cause of disability and death. Objectives: The study aim to investigate the in-vitro antidibetic and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Encephalartos ferox leaves. Materials and Methods: The plant was screened for its Phytochemical composition. The plant material was extracted with methanol and the methanolic extract was screened (in-vitro) for its antioxidant activity using ABTS and DPPH assays. The potential antidiabetic activity of the plant extract was evaluated against some carbohydrates (α- amylase and α-glucosidase) and lipid (pancreatic lipase) digestive enzymes. The inverted intestinal sac model was also used to investigate the effect of the extract on intestinal glucose absorption. The anti-protein glycation activity of the extract was determined using haemoglobin. Results: The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of most of the phytochemicals (Tannins, Flavonoids, Terpenoids, Alkaloids etc) that were screened for. The crude extract exhibited the antidiabetic potential as it significantly (P\< 0.05) inhibited α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase in a dose dependent fashion. The extract also effectively reduced intestinal glucose absorption. The extract further showed antioxidant activity by efficiently scavenging ABTS and DPPH radicals with IC50 values of 68.3 μg/ml and 308 μg/ml, respectively. The extract also inhibited haemoglobin glycation, thus displaying the anti-protein glycation potential. Conclusion: It is apparent that E. ferox extract could serve as scaffold for diabetic therapy. For future study, cytotoxicity profile and in vivo investigation of the antidiabetic activity of the crude extract are essential.

}, keywords = {Diabetic, Flavonoids, Hyperglycaemia, Hyperlipidemia, Hypoglycaemic, Protein- glycation}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.71}, author = {Michael Chukwuka Ojo and Foluso Oluwagbemiga Osunsanmi and Godfrey Elijah Zaharare and Rebamang Anthony Mosa and Nkosinathi David Cele and Michael Osawemi Oboh and Andy Rowland Opoku} }