Abstract

Usha Pal*, Rajesh Gour, Virendra Kumar Sharma and Akhlesh Kumar Singhai

ABSTRACT

Pimenta dioica, Family: Myrtaceae, well known for its berries called Pimento, has been used as an important spice since time immemorial, for its culinary as well as medicinal qualities. It is also known as Allspice due to its intricate aroma which is a medley of aroma from spices such as Clove, Nutmeg and Cinnamon. In India, the leaves of Pimenta are used to flavor rice which gives it a typical aroma. Various compounds have been isolated from the plant which belongs to categories like phenylpropanoids, tannins, glycosides and essential oil. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health problem and the incidence of DM is increasing at alarming rate all over the world. Many Indian medicinal plants have been reported to possess potential antidiabetic activity and could play important role in the management diabetes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis, in vitro antioxidant activities and invivo anti-diabetic potentials of methanolic extract of leaf (Pimenta dioica) against alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar rat’s model collected from Bhopal region of Madhya Pradesh. Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents and quantitative analysis of total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature. The in vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of the leaves was assessed against DPPH assay method using standard protocols. Rats were given Alloxan monohydrate in sterile normal saline at a dose of 120 mg/kg to induce diabetes, and glibenclamide (5mg/kg body weight) was utilized as the usual medication. Body weight and blood glucose level were assessed in this study. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannin and phenolic compounds, saponins and triterpenoids and steroids. The total phenolics content of leaves of methanolic extract was (69.66mg/gm), followed by flavonoids (40mg/gm). The activities of methanolic leaves extract against DPPH assay method were concentration dependent with IC 50 values of ascorbic acid and extracts 18.99 and 59.21?g/ml respectively. Oral treatment of methanolic extract of Pimenta dioica using rat oral needle at 200 and 400mg/kg doses significantly decreased blood glucose levels in diabetic rats than control rats and increase body wt. Hence, the chemical constituents of the plant extract might help in preventing diabetic complications and may serve as an alternative in the present armamentarium of antidiabetic drugs. Further study to substantiate the use of the plant as antidiabetic is recommended.