Ethnopharmacological activity of Hedera nepalensis K. Koch extracts and lupeol against alloxan-induced type I diabetes

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Hedera nepalensis crude extract, its fractions and lupeol in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Lupeol and n-hexane (HNN) fraction significantly reduced the blood glucose level by increasing insulin level in time dependent manner, and also significantly increased amylase and lipase activity in diabetic rats. Elevated levels of alanine transaminases (ALT), aspartate transaminases (AST), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrite, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total bilirubin and total protein in blood serum were efficiently restored to normal levels. Suppressed enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and peroxidase (POD) were also restored to their normal levels. Kidney functions were also restored to normal level after treatment with HNN and lupeol. HNN fraction and lupeol of H. nepalensis prevented oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. This study signifies the importance of H. nepalensis and lupeol in ameliorating diabetes by inducing insulin secretion in diabetic model rats.

本研究探究了尼泊尔常春藤（Hedera nepalensis）粗提取物、其分级组分以及羽扇豆醇对四氧嘧啶诱导糖尿病大鼠的保护作用。羽扇豆醇与正己烷（HNN）组分可通过时间依赖性方式提升胰岛素水平，显著降低糖尿病大鼠的血糖浓度，同时可显著提升糖尿病大鼠体内的淀粉酶与脂肪酶活性。血清中升高的丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、硫代巴比妥酸反应物质（TBARS）、亚硝酸盐、过氧化氢（H₂O₂）、总胆红素与总蛋白水平，均被有效恢复至正常范围。原本受抑制的过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）与过氧化物酶（POD）的酶活性，也恢复至正常水平。经正己烷组分与羽扇豆醇治疗后，糖尿病大鼠的肾功能也恢复至正常水平。尼泊尔常春藤的正己烷组分与羽扇豆醇可缓解四氧嘧啶诱导糖尿病大鼠体内的氧化应激。本研究证实了尼泊尔常春藤与羽扇豆醇通过在糖尿病模型大鼠体内诱导胰岛素分泌，从而改善糖尿病的重要价值。