Anti-hyperglycemic activity of Commelina communis L.:: inhibition of α-glucosidase

Since ages, botanical substances are in use for the remedy of diabetes with considerable degree of success. One of the such; an extract of Commelina communis L. (CE-L) after decoction in water has been traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes in Korea. However, its action mechanism has not yet been established. To explore the inside of its action-mechanism, in this study, the effect of the aqueous extract of C. communis L. (CE-L) on the activity of alpha-glucosidase was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Aqueous extract of CE-L showed inhibitory activity of the alpha-glucosidase in a dose-dependent manner, in vitro. CE-L also seems to be by and large free from exerting any cytotoxic effect at least in CHO-K1 fibroblast and 3T3-L1 adipocyte. CE-L alleviated hyperglycemia caused by maltose or starch loading in normal and Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice with better efficacy than that of acarbose. In addition, prolonged administration of CE-L tends to normalize hyperglycemia in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Such results suggest that inhibitory activity of CE-L on alpha-glucosidase may contribute to delay in carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption. Thus, CE-L has potential for use in the management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.