MODULATION OF IMPAIRED CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES: EFFECT OF Gymnema montanum LEAF EXTRACT

• Published in: Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 17 - 36
• Main Authors: Ramkumar, Kunga Mohan, Latha, Muniappan, Ashokkumar, Natarajan, Pari, Leelavinothan, Ananthan, Rajendran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 2005
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Brain - enzymology; Butyrylcholinesterase - metabolism; Cholinesterases - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - enzymology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - chemically induced; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Gymnema - chemistry; Insulin - blood; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Retina - enzymology; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism
• ISSN: 0792-6855; 2191-0286
• DOI: 10.1515/JBCPP.2005.16.1.17

We reported that a leaf extract (GLEt) obtained from an anti-diabetic plant, Gymnema montanum, an endangered species endemic to India, has anti-peroxidative and antioxidant effects on diabetic brain tissue in rats. Here we examined the effect of the extract on the activity of reduced brain and retinal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats received GLEt orally (200 mg/kg bwt/d) for 12 wk, and changes in blood glucose, plasma insulin, the lipid peroxidation marker thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), and AChE and BChE activity were measured. The results confirmed prior reports that hyperglycemia significantly enhances TBARS levels in brain and retinal tissue and decreases AChE and BChE activity. Treatment with GLEt significantly reversed the impairment in enzymatic activity in addition to reducing the level of TBARS, suggesting that GLEt protects against the adverse effect of lipid peroxidation on brain and retinal cholinesterases. We suggest that GLEt could be useful for preventing the cholinergic neural and retinal complications of hyperglycemia in diabetes.