Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Activity of Roots of Matricaria recutita on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

 

Krishna Murti1*, Mayank Panchal1, Megha Shah1 and Vijay Lambole1

Dept. of Pharmacology, Vidyabharti Trust College of Pharmacy, Umrakh, India

 

ABSTRACT:

The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti diabetic - activity of Matricaria recutita roots against Streptozotocin (STZ) induced experimental rats. Ethanolic extract of roots of Matricaria recutita was administered to streptozotocin induced rats. Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug. Blood glucose levels were determined after oral administration of a dose of Matricaria recutita (400 mg/kg b. wt) in diabetic groups. Blood glucose levels were determined on 0, 7th, 14th and 21st day after oral administration of ethanolic extracts of Matricaria recutita (400 mg/kg). An ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita was found to reduce blood sugar in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Reduction in blood sugar could be seen from 7th day after continuous administration of the extract. The effect of extracts of Matricaria recutita on serum lipid profile like Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density, very low density and high density lipoprotein were also measured in the diabetic and non diabetic rats. There was significant reduction in Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and improvement in HDL cholesterol in diabetic rats. These results indicated that Matricaria recutita possesses a hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect.

 

KEYWORDS: Matricaria recutita, Glibenclamide, Hypoglycemia,  Antihyperlipidemic, Streptozotocin

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION:

Diabetes mellitus is a complex disorder that is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from malfunction in insulin secretion and/or insulin action both causing by impaired metabolism of glucose, lipids and protein1. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs2. In diabetic rats, the utilization of impaired carbohydrate leads to accelerate lipolysis, resulted in hyperlipidemia3, 4. Despite the presence of known antidiabetic medicine in the pharmaceutical market, diabetes and the related complications continued to be a major medical problem. Recently, some medicinal plants have been reported to be useful in diabetes worldwide and have been used empirically as antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic remedies5-10. Diabetes mellitus is known to cause hyperlipidemia through various metabolic derangements. Among several metabolic derangements, insulin deficiency has been known to stimulate lipolysis in the adipose tissue and gives rise to hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. Thus, in diabetes hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia often occurs11. More than 400 plant species having hypoglycemic activity have been available in literature12, 13; however, searching for new antidiabetic drugs from natural plants is still attractive because they contain substances which take alternative and safe effect on diabetes mellitus.


Most of plants contain glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, cartenoids, etc., that are frequently implicated as having antidiabetic effect14.

 

Matricaria recutita is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics. German chamomile is the most commonly used. It grows freely everywhere. Chamomile is one of the most widely used and well-documented medicinal plants in the world. It is included in the pharmacopoeia of 26 countries15

 

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) are the two major types of chamomile used for health conditions and both are form compositae family. They are believed to have similar effects on the body, although German chamomile may be slightly stronger. Most research has used German chamomile, which is more commonly used everywhere except for England, where Roman chamomile is more common. German chamomile is considered the more potent of the two, has received more scientific evaluation, and is more widely cultivated than Roman chamomile; it is believed to possess anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, deodorant, bacteriostatic, antimicrobial, anticatarrhal, carminative, sedative, antiseptic, and spasmolytic properties16,17. Roman chamomile is believed to possess carminative, antiemetic, antispasmodic, and sedative properties16. Chamomile’s essential oil comprises 0.5% to 1.5% of the flower head. One hundred Twenty chemical constituents have been identified in chamomile, including terpenoids, flavonoids, and coumarins15. The essential oil of both German and Roman chamomile is a light blue color due to the terpenoid chamazulene. Chamazulene is an artifact formed during heating and comprises about 5% of the essential oil18.

 

However, no simultaneous antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity on the roots of Matricaria recutita was scientifically available. Therefore, the present study has been carried out to explore the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity of Matricaria recutita

 

2.      MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Materials:

The roots of Matricaria recutita was collected from adjoining areas of Meerut, in April, 2009, and was authenticated by Associate Professor Dr. M. K. Saxena, Department of Botany, M. M.P. G. College campus, Modinagar, C.C.S University, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), by carrying out macroscopic and microscopic evaluation.

 

Animals:

Male Wistar rats of body wt. 180–200 g were obtained from central Animal House, VBTCP, Umrakh, India. The animals were fed on standard pellet diet (Hindustan Lever, Mumbai, India) and water ad libitum. The rats used in the present study were maintained in accordance with guidelines of the CPCSEA, India and the study approved by the Institutional ethical committee (VBTCP/IAEC/07/19/10).

Preparation of the root extract:

The shade dried roots were powdered to get a course granule. About 250 g of dried powder were extracted with 90% ethanol by continuous hot percolation, using soxhlet apparatus. The resulted dark – brown extract was concentrated up to 100 ml on Rota vapour under reduced pressure. The concentrated crude extracts were lyophilized in to powder and used for the study.

 

The preliminary phytochemical analysis:

The preliminary phytochemical studies were performed for testing different chemical groups present in ethanolic extract19.

 

Toxicity studies:

The animals were divided into six groups separately and were treated orally with ethanolic extracts of Matricaria recutita at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, body weight doses. The animals were continuously observed for 1 hr., then frequently for 14 days. The parameters observed were grooming, hyperactivity, sedation, loss of righting reflex, respiratory rate and convulsion20.

 

Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats:

Streptozotocin (STZ), obtained from VBTCP, Umrakh was dissolved in ice-cold normal saline immediately before use. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 50 mg/kg21. Forty eight hours after streptozotocin administration, blood samples were drawn from tail and glucose levels determined to confirm diabetes. The rats were divided into 4 groups as follows, first group served as normal control, received food and water. Second group served as diabetic control, received 0.5 ml of 5% Tween 80; third group served as (diabetic control), received glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg p.o.), and fourth groups, (diabetic rats) received 400 mg/kg, b.wt. of ethanolic extracts of Matricaria recutita. The treatment was continued daily for 21days. Blood drop was collected from the tail vein for glucose estimation, just before drug administration on 1st day and 1 h after sample administration on days 7, 14 and 21 (Table 1).

 

Biochemical parameters:

Triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were estimated from the serum by using standard kits21, 22, 23.

 

Statistical evaluation:

All the data are presented as mean ± SEM. The differences between group were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Dunnette multiple comparisons test’s <0.01 was considered to be significant.

 

3.      RESULTS:

Phytochemical screening:

Phytochemical screening of the plant extract revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins and carbohydrates.

 

Tab 1: Anti-hyperglycemic activity of extracts of Matricaria recutita on STZ induced diabetic rats.

Groups Treatment/Dose

0 day (mg/ml)

After 7days (mg/ml)

After 14days (mg/ml)

After 21days (mg/ml)

Normal control

62.40 ±5.45

96.70 ±5.56

85.80 ±4.45

79.75 ±5.79

Diabetic control

224.70 ±15.52

214.5 ±10.60*

211.33 ±20.30*

208.16 ± 17.38*

Glibenclamide (0.5mg/kg)

232.33 ±13.9***

184.83 ±12.8***

129.83 ±19.20 ***

94.50 ±5.46 ***

Ethanolic extract (40 mg/kg)

237.0 ±15.0***

190.16 ±16.14***

132.66 ±11.01 ***

98.83 ±10.55 ***

.The values are mean ±SEM, n=6, When compared with diabetic control *p<0.05, **p<0.001, ***p<001 (One way ANOVA followed by Dennett’s, multiple comparison test.

 

 

Tab 2: Antihyperlipidemic effect of extract of Matricaria recutita on STZ induced diabetic rats.

Groups Treatment/Dose

TC

TG

HDL-C

LDL-C

VLDL-C

Normal control

80.50 ±1.35

69.33 ±0.75

39.83 ±0.69

42.00 ±2.79

19.83 ±0.75

Diabetic control

135.83 ±1.97*

139.00  ±1.68*

28.67 ±1.15*

89.50 ±2.29*

29.34 1.67*

Glibenclamide (0.5mg/kg)

98.57 ±3.73**

88.50 ±2.17**

34.23 ±5.52**

59.23 ±1.49**

23.67 ±0.77**

Ethanolic extract (40 mg/kg)

99.19 ±2.26**

89.00 ±2.69**

35.57 ±1.33**

58.13 ±1.62**

24.93 ±0.37**

The values are mean ± SEM n= 6, when compared with diabetic control, * = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, (One way ANOVA followed by Dennett’s, multiple comparison tests)

 

 

Toxicity studies:

In performing preliminary test for pharmacological activity in rats, ethanolic extract did not produce any significant changes in the behavioral or neurological responses upto 400 mg/kg body weight. Acute toxicity studies revealed the non-toxic nature of the ethanolic extracts of Matricaria recutita. The result obtained from the LD50 study indicates that ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita is safer to use in animals even at a dose of 400 mg/kg p.o.

 

Antidiabetic Effects:

Effect of ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita on serum glucose levels in diabetic rats depicted in Table 1. In animals treated with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg i.p) (Group II), a significant increase in serum glucose level was observed on 7th, 14thand 21st, day when compared with normal rats (Group I). Group III received Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg p.o.) showed decrease in serum glucose level when compared with diabetic control rats (Group II). After the oral administration of ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita in diabetic control rats, a significant reduction in blood glucose level was observed on the 7th, 14thand 21st day compared with diabetic control rats (Group II).

 

Anti-hyperlipidaemic activity

The lipid profiles in control and experimental rats are depicted in Table 2 in STZ induced diabetic rats. The diabetic control rats (Group II) showed significant increase in serum triglycerides, Total cholesterol, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and High density lipoproteins (HDL) when compared with normal (Group I). Standard Glibenclamide (Group III) also reduced triglycerides, Total cholesterol, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and increased High density lipoproteins (HDL) when compared with normal (Group I).The ethanolic extract showed significant decrease (p<0.001) in Total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, Triglycerides and significant increase (p<0.001) in HDL when compared with  diabetic control group (Group II). All these effects were observed on day 14thand 21st .The present experimental result indicated that ethanolic extract exhibited a potent blood glucose lowering properties and hypolipidemic effect in STZ diabetic rats.

 

4.      DISCUSSION:

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of death, illness and economic loss all over the world. Insulin-dependent (Type I, IDDM) diabetes is characterized by juvenile onset and by absolute insulin deficiency. Non-insulin-dependent (Type II, NIDDM) diabetes is characterized by mature onset, by varying basal insulin levels and a frequent association with obesity.

 

We found an elevated blood glucose concentration accompanied by increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL,VLDL and decrease in HDL cholesterol in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats as compared to normal control animals. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita normalized the levels of blood glucose. The potent antidiabetic effect of the plant extract suggests the presence of potent antidiabetic active principles, which produced antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats.

 

In recent years, considerable interest has been directed towards the investigation of plasma lipids and lipoproteins pattern in diabetes mellitus due to the fact that abnormal lipid level leads to the development of coronary artery disease in diabetic patients24. Reduced insulin secretion and defect in insulin function results in enhanced metabolism of lipids from adipose tissue to the plasma. Impairment in insulin sensitivity due to high concentration of lipids in the cells is responsible for the elevated cardiovascular risk in diabetes mellitus25. Thus, the altered lipid and lipoprotein pattern observed in diabetic rats could be due to defect in insulin secretion and/or action. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia have been reported to occur in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Accumulation of cholesterol and phospholipids in liver due to elevated plasma free fatty acids has been reported in diabetic rats. In the present study, ethanolic extract of Matricaria recutita had significantly decreased Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, VLDL, and LDL with increase in HDL which is having a protective function for the heart compared with diabetic control group26.

 

5.      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This research was carried out in the college campus of Vidyabharti Trust College of Pharmacy, Umrakh, India. The authors are grateful to Principal and Management Trustee for constant support.

 

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Received on 28.03.2011

Accepted on 10.04.2011     

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 3(4): July –August, 2011, 180-183