1.5.1 Phytoconstituents of Enicostemma littorale Blume and its medicinal properties
Enicostemma littorale Blume contains secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, catechins, saponins, sterols, triterpinoids, phenolic acid flavonoids and xanthones. Thse secondary metabolites exhibit various biomedical properties like anti-inflammatory [29] and anticancer [30] properties. Aqueous extract of E. littorale in alloxan induced diabetic rats was also reported to possess anti-diabetic effects [20, 22, 23], antioxidant, hypolipidaemic effect in cholesterol fed rats as well as in newly diagnosed type-2 diabetic mellitus patients [24, 25] hepatoprotective activity [28] and was also used in an anti-diabetic herbomineral preparation [31].This lead to isolation of active compound swertiamarin from Enicostemma littorale Blume.
1.5.2 Swertiamarin an active lead isolated from Enicostemma littorale Blume
The aqueous extract of E. littorale and its n-butanol and ethyl acetate fraction were reported to show potent anti-diabetic and lipid lowering effect [32]. Reports [17] suggested that the active compound(s) predicting these effects might be present in these fractions [32] and swertiamarin was one of the major lead compound of the fractions present [17]. Swertiamarin is a potent secoiridoid …show more content…
These biochemical activities are confirmed by histological studies reported earlier. Hence, the protective effects of different doses of swertiamarin on insulin secretion, prevention of damage of diabetic rat pancreatic islets and regeneration of pancreatic β-cells in STZ-induced diabetic condition, correlated well with plasma glucose and insulin levels