Ethanol extract of Gymnema montanum leaves reduces glycoprotein components in experimental diabetes

In the present study, the modulatory effects of Gymnema montanum leaves on glycoprotein levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats were examined. The ethanol extract of G montanum leaves was administered orally (200 mg/kg of body weight) for 3 weeks. The effect of G montanum leases on blood glucose, plasma insulin, and plasma/tissue glycoproteins was compared with that of a reference drug, glibenclamide (600 mu g/kg of body weight). The levels of blood glucose and plasma glycoproteins were increased significantly, whereas the levels of plasma insulin and sialic acid were decreased in diabetic rats. The levels of hexose, hexosamine, and fucose in the liver and kidney of alloxan-diabetic rats increased significantly. Oral administration of the ethanol extract of G montanum leaves to diabetic rats reversed these hyperglycemia-induced biochemical changes. The observed antihyperglycemic effect was found to be positively correlated with the total phenolic content of the extract. The present study indicates that the G montanum leaves possess a significant beneficial effect on glycoprotein moiety in addition to its antidiabetic effect. Thus, the results of the present study indicate a positive role of G montanum as a therapeutic agent for diabetes. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.