Objective:

The study aimed to verify the hypoglycemic effect of Murraya koenigii (M. koenigii) and Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) by using various in-vitro techniques.

Method:

The extracts were studied for their effects on glucose adsorption capacity, in-vitro glucose diffusion, in-vitro amylolysis kinetics and glucose transport across the yeast cells.

Results:

It was observed that the extracts of M. koenigii and C. roseus adsorbed glucose and the adsorption of glucose increased remarkably with an increase in glucose concentration. There were no significant (p≤0.05) differences between their adsorption capacities. In the amylolysis kinetic experimental model the rate of glucose diffusion was found to be increased with time from 30 to 180 min and both the plant extracts exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the movement of glucose into external solution across the dialysis membrane as compared to control. The extracts also promoted glucose uptake by the yeast cells and the enhancement of glucose uptake was dependent on both the sample and glucose concentration. The extract of M. koenigii exhibited significantly higher (p≤0.05) activity than the extract of C. roseus at all concentrations used in the study. Our report suggests the mechanism(s) for the hypoglycemic effect of M. koenigii and C. roseus.

Conclusion:

The said effect was observed to be mediated by inhibiting alpha amylase, inhibiting glucose diffusion by adsorbing glucose and by increasing glucose transport across the cell membranes as revealed by in-vitro model of yeast cells. However, these effects need to be affirmed by using different in vivo models and clinical trials.

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