Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Antihyperglycemic, Antihyperlipidemic and Antiapoptotic Activities of Micromelum minutum Seeds in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Khaled MM Koriem, Muhammad E Aminuddin, Azham S Kader and Noruddin R Sheikh

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases in the whole world. It is a complex, multi-factorial disease which affects the quality, quantity, and style of an individual’s life. The Micromelum minutum (Family Rutaceae) is a small shrub growing widely in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. In the present study the evaluation of the anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-apoptotic activities of Micromelum minutum seeds ethanolic extract in diabetic rats was done. After 30 days of administration the dose (100 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of ethanolic extract of the Micromelum minutum seeds and 25 mg/kg bwt Microminutinin coumarin there was a significant decrease in serum glucose levels; while following two months of administration of the same doses of the seeds extract and coumarin induced a significant decrease in the cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and increase in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) level. The treatment with Micromelum minutum seeds extract and its coumarin ingredient to diabetic rats increased p53 expression while decreased bcl-2 expression. Histopathological investigation revealed that Micromelum minutum seeds ethanolic extract (100 mg/kg) and Microminutinin coumarin (25 mg/kg bwt) treatment also increased the number of pancreas β-cells as compared to that of diabetic animals. In conclusion, Micromelum minutum seeds ethanolic extract had anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-apoptotic activities and all these activities are related to Microminutinin coumarin ingredient of the plant seeds.