• Chem Biol Interact. 2007 Jan 30;165(2):155-64. Epub 2006 Dec 2. Beneficial effects of Murraya koenigii leaves on antioxidant defense system and ultra structural changes of pancreatic beta-cells in experimental diabetes in rats. Arulselvan P, Subramanian SP. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India. Oxidative stress and oxidative damage to tissues are common end points of chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Oxidative stress in diabetes coexists with a reduction in the antioxidant status, which can further increase the deleterious effects of free radicals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Murraya koenigii leaves extract against beta cell damage and antioxidant defense systems of plasma and pancreas in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. The levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin in blood and insulin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, ceruloplasmin, reduced glutathione and TBARS were estimated in plasma of control and experimental groups of rats. To assess the changes in the cellular antioxidant defense system such as the level of reduced glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were assayed in pancreatic tissue homogenate. The levels of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, TBARS, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants were altered in diabetic rats. These alterations were reverted back to near control levels after the treatment of M. koenigii leaves extract. Transmission electron microscopic studies also revealed the protective nature of M. koenigii leaves on pancreatic beta-cells. These findings suggest that M. koenigii treatment exerts a therapeutic protective nature in diabetes by decreasing oxidative stress and pancreatic beta-cell damage. The antioxidant effect of the M. koenigii extract was compared with glibenclamide, a well-known hypoglycemic drug. PMID: 17188670 [PubMed - in process]

• Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2006 Dec;33(12):1150-7. Biochemical evaluation of antidiabetogenic properties of some commonly used Indian plants on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in experimental rats. Narendhirakannan RT, Subramanian S, Kandaswamy M. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Madras, Chennai, India. 1. Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disorder with micro- and macrovascular complications that results in significant morbidity and mortality. 2. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypoglycaemic efficacy of commonly used traditional Indian plants, such as Murraya koenigii, Mentha piperitae, Ocimum sanctum and Aegle marmelos, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental rats. 3. Oral administration of the ethanolic extract of these plants resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and urea, with a concomitant increase in glycogen, haemoglobin and protein, in diabetic rats. Treatment with these plant extracts also resulted in an increase in insulin and C-peptide levels and glucose tolerance. 4. The decreased activities of carbohydrate-metabolising enzymes, such as hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycogen synthase, in diabetic rats were significantly elevated towards near normal in rats treated with extracts of M. koenigii, O. sanctum and A. marmelos; the increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glucose-6phosphatase and glycogen phosphorylase in STZ diabetic rats were significantly reduced following treatment with the plant extracts. 5. Elevated specific binding of [(125)I]-labelled insulin to the receptor found in diabetic rats was markedly decreased in extract-treated groups. However, treatment of diabetic rats with M. piperitae did not result in any significant modification in all parameters. 6. Phytochemical screening conducted by us revealed the presence of biologically active ingredients in the ethanolic extracts of M. koenigii, O. sanctum and A. marmelos, which may readily account for the observed hypoglycaemic activity.

Publication Types: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 17184494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

• Pharmazie. 2006 Oct;61(10):874-7. Anti-diabetic effect of Murraya koenigii leaves on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Arulselvan P, Senthilkumar GP, Sathish Kumar D, Subramanian S. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic efficacy of Murraya koenigii in STZinduced diabetic rats. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of M. koenigii at a dose of 200 mg/kg/ b.w./day for a period of 30 days significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, urea, uric acid and creatinine in diabetic treated group of animals. Determination of plasma insulin level revealed the insulin stimulatory effect of the extract. The results suggest that M. koenigii possesses statistically significant hypoglycemic potential in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The M. koenigii extract appeared to be more effective than glibenclamide, a known antidiabetic drug. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 17069429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

• Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Sep;56(6):399-414. Plant foods in the management of diabetes mellitus: spices as beneficial antidiabetic food adjuncts. Srinivasan K. Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore-570013, India. Diet has been recognized as a corner stone in the management of diabetes mellitus. Spices are the common dietary adjuncts that contribute to the taste and flavour of foods. Besides, spices are also known to exert several beneficial physiological effects including the antidiabetic influence. This review considers all the available information from animal experimentation as well as clinical trials where spices, their extracts or their active principles were examined for treatment of diabetes. Among the spices, fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenumgraecum), garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa), and turmeric (Curcuma longa) have been experimentally documented to possess antidiabetic potential. In a limited number of studies, cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), mustard (Brassica nigra), curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) have been reported to be hypoglycaemic. Publication Types:

Review PMID: 16361181 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

• J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Oct;82(2-3):111-6. Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of Murraya koenigii leaves in diabetic rats. Yadav S, Vats V, Dhunnoo Y, Grover JK. Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Science, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. The commonly used spice curry patta (Murraya koenigii) is traditionally consumed by diabetics in southern part of India. Feeding of diet containing various doses of curry leaves (5, 10 and 15%) to normal rats for 7 days as well as mild diabetic (blood glucose levels >175 mg/dl induced by alloxan 35 mg/kg IP) and moderate diabetic rats (blood glucose levels >250 mg/dl induced by STZ 60 mg/kg IP) for 5 weeks showed varying hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect. In normal rats, reduction in blood glucose was almost negligible (approximately 4% with 10 and 15% diet). In mild and moderate diabetic rats, feeding of 5, 10 and 15% diet caused a maximal reduction in blood sugar by 13.1, 16.3 and 21.4% (NS, P<0.05 and 0.005) and 3.2, 5.58, 8.21% (NS), respectively. The mechanism of action is further discussed in light of results of previous and the present study. Publication Types: Comparative Study PMID: 12241985 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]