Enicostemma littorale
Blume- Scientific Monograph
Family: Gentiaceae
Ayurvedic
Name:
Nahi, Maja-makka booti.
Habitat: It is found
throughout
Botany: E. littorale
is a perennial herb attaining height of 5-20 inches. It produces yellow or
white coloured flowers, which are arranged in clusters.
Chemistry: Bitter
principle (swertimarine), two alkaloids (one gentianine and other‘s name not
confirmed), ophelic acid and tannins.
Pharmacology: Hypoglycemic.
In
a study, Maroo and workers have shown hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity of
methanol extract of E. littorale Blume. Administration of methanol extracts
(2.5 g/kg body weight/day) to diabetic rats for 20 days reduced blood glucose
levels from 466.50+ 37.07 to 237.20+ 28.22. The extract not only
raised the serum insulin levels but improved the antioxidant status of the rats
also.
In
another study, Maroo and workers studied the dose dependent blood glucose
lowering effect of aqueous extract of E. littorale Blume in alloxan diabetic
rats. 1.5 G dry plant caused significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin,
liver glucose-6-phosphataseactivity and significant increase in serum insulin
levels of the diabetic rat.
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