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Volume 6, Issue 1 2009 Article 6
Recommended Citation:
Anwar, Sirajudheen; Desai, Sandhya; and Mandlik, Rahul (2009) "Exploring Antidiabetic
Mechanisms of Action of Galactomannan: A Carbohydrate Isolated from Fenugreek Seeds,"
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: 10.2202/1553-3840.1218
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/jcim/vol6/iss1/6
©2009 Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.
Exploring Antidiabetic Mechanisms of Action
of Galactomannan: A Carbohydrate Isolated
from Fenugreek Seeds
Sirajudheen Anwar, Sandhya Desai, and Rahul Mandlik
Abstract
The previously studied hypoglycemic effect of fenugreek galactomannan was confirmed in
normal rats. Additional investigations were carried out to study the effect of galactomannan on
utilization of glucose by hemidiaphragm and its antioxidant activity in diabetic rats. As compared
to diabetic control rats, the galactomannan enhanced the uptake of glucose by hemidiaphragm but
it was not comparable to the standard drug glibenclamide. Furthermore, galactomannan lowered
lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The present study demonstrates
that fenugreek galactomannan exhibits little antioxidant activity and little effect on peripheral
glucose uptake. Further scope is there to study galactomannan's different antidiabetic
mechanism(s) of actions.
Author Notes: Author Sirajudheen Anwar Research Fellow, is grateful to AICTE, New Delhi,
India and Hyderabad(Sind) National Collegiate Board for this work.
Anwar et al.: Fenugreek Galactomannan - Antidiabetic Activity
Introduction
Fenugreek seeds. Fenugreek seeds purchased from local market Colaba Mumbai
was identified and taxonomically authenticated at Department of Pharmacognosy,
Prin.K.M.Kundanani College of Pharmacy Mumbai.
The mucilage was precipitated out by addition of 95% ethanol in the ratio
1:1 by continuous stirring. The coagulated mucilage, which formed as a white
mass was transferred to an evaporating dish and treated successively with ethanol.
The coagulated mass was dried in oven at 40 – 45º C powdered and stored in
airtight container. The percent yield obtained was 48 %. (Mulimani and Prashant
2002).
Isolated fenugreek galactomannan was subjected to phytochemical
analysis. Various test for carbohydrate [Molish test and Fehling’s test] and protein
[Biuret test] identification was carried out (Smith U 1959). Specific test for
fenugreek galactomannan was carried out (Khandelwal 2001). Fenugreek
galactomannan was characterized by chemical tests and standardized by paper
chromatography (Mukherjee and Srivastava 1952). Sample is stored for reference.
Animals. Albino mice of Haffkine strain (weighing 15-25g) and albino rats of
Wistar strain (weighing 100-160 g) of either sex, obtained from Bharat Serum and
Vaccines, Thane, India were housed under standard conditions of temperature
(24+1 0C), relative humidity (65+10 %), 10-h light and 14-h dark cycle and fed
with standard pellet diet (Chakan Mill Ltd, Pune, India) and water ad libitum.
Experimental protocols were approved by Institutional Ethics Committee.
Normal fasted rats. Overnight fasted normal albino rats were randomly divided
into five group of six animals each and treated orally as follows (Skim et al 1999;
Sabu and Kutan 2002)
Group 1. Control: given only vehicle i.e. 0.5%w/v (1 ml/kg)
Group 2. Treated with fenugreek galactomannan (150 mg/kg)
Group 3. Treated with fenugreek galactomannan (300 mg/kg)
Group 4. Treated with fenugreek galactomannan (600 mg/kg)
Group 5. Treated with fenugreek glibenclamide (4 mg/kg)
Glibenclamide (4 mg/kg) was used as standard antidiabetic drug
(Fernandes N P, et al. 2007; Adebajo A C, et al. 2007). Blood samples were
collected from tail vein prior and 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after treatment. Fasting blood
glucose (FBG) was determined by the glucose oxidase method using Hypogaurd’s
advanced Microdraw test strips.
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DOI: 10.2202/1553-3840.1218
Anwar et al.: Fenugreek Galactomannan - Antidiabetic Activity
Statistical analysis. All the values are expressed as means ± S.E.M. The results
were analyzed statistically by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by
Dunnett’s test. P values <0.05 were considered significant.
Normal (CMC 1ml/kg) Group I 61.33 ± 1.17 59.66 ± 0.71 58 ± 1.21 54.66 ± 1.11 58.5 ± 1.08
GL (150 mg/kg) Group II 61.66 ± 1.45 60.5 ± 1.38 55.16 ± 1.66 50.33 ± 1.74 51.83 ± 1.40 *
GL (300 mg/kg) Group III 59.33 ± 2.17 58.66 ± 2.34 50.33 ± 1.23** 44.83 ± 2.51** 48.66 ± 2.55**
GL (600 mg/kg) Group IV 59.33 ± 1.12 57.66 ± 1.15 49.16 ± 1.20** 42.83 ± 1.28 ** 49.0 ± 1.155**
Glibenclamide(4mg/kg) Group V 60.88 ± 1.42 56.5 ± 1.18 48.83 ± 1.20 ** 42.5 ± 1.06 ** 46.83 ± 0.98**
GL –Fenugreek galactomannan
N = 6 in each group. Values are mean ± S.E.M.
* P< 0.05 compared to normal group (ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s);
** P< 0.01 compared to normal group (ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s).
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Anwar et al.: Fenugreek Galactomannan - Antidiabetic Activity
Table 2
Effect of fenugreek galactomannan on blood glucose level in normal glucose (1 g/kg) loaded rats
Normal (CMC 1ml/kg+Glucose) Group I 62.33 ± 0.95 85.5 ± 1.50 80.66 ± 1.94 75 ± 1.61
GL (150 mg/kg+Glucose) Group II 62.16 ± 1.30 71.83 ± 1.11** 67.66 ± 1.20** 60 ± 1.27**
GL (300 mg/kg+Glucose) Group III 63.33 ± 1.52 69.33 ± 0.49** 66.16 ± 2.27** 58.5 ± 1.84**
GL (600 mg/kg+Glucose) Group IV 62 ± 1.29 62.66 ± 1.15** 60.33 ± 1.26** 52.16 ± 0.95 **
Glibenclamide (4mg/kg+Glucose) Group V 61.83 ± 1.82 60 ± 1.48** 52.33 ± 1.09** 50 ± 1.13 **
% effect was calculated by % decrease in BGL at +2(h)
GL –Fenugreek galactomannan
N = 6 in each group. Values are mean ± S.E.M.
** P< 0.01 compared to normal group (ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s).
Table 4a
Antioxidant effects of fenugreek galactomannan (Catalase activity)
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Anwar et al.: Fenugreek Galactomannan - Antidiabetic Activity
Table 4b
Antioxidant effects of fenugreek galactomannan (Glutathione peroxidase activity)
Table 4c
Antioxidant effects of fenugreek galactomannan (Lipid peroxidation)
Conclusion
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