@article {651, title = {Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) on blood glucose and lipids in a diabetic and healthy rat model}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {4}, year = {2012}, month = {april,2012}, pages = {73-79}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {73}, abstract = {

Objectives: To evaluate short- and long-term effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum on food consumption, body weight, glycemic control, and lipids in healthy and diabetes-induced rats. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in two phases (Phase I and Phase II), using Sprague-Dawley rats in four groups. Phase I evaluated acute effects on fasting blood glucose (FBG) (Groups 1 and 2) and on post-oral glucose (Groups 3 and 4) blood glucose. Groups 1 and 3 received distilled-water and Groups 2 and 4 received cinnamon-extracts. Phase II evaluated effects on food consumption, body weight, blood glucose, and lipids over 1 month. Group A (n = 8, distilled-water) and Group B (n = 8, cinnamon-extracts) were healthy rats, while Group C (n = 5, distilled-water) and Group D (n = 5, cinnamon-extracts) were diabetes-induced rats. Serum lipid profile and HbA1c were measured on D-0 and D-30. FBG, 2-h post-prandial blood glucose, body weight, and food consumption were measured on every fifth day. Results: Phase I: There was no significant difference in serial blood glucose values in cinnamon-treated group from time 0 (P \> 0.05). Following oral glucose, the cinnamon group demonstrated a faster decline in blood glucose compared to controls (P \< 0.05). Phase II: Between D0 and D30, the difference in food consumption was shown only in diabetes-induced rats (P \< 0.001). Similarly, the significant difference following cinnamon-extracts in FBG and 2-h post-prandial blood glucose from D0 to D30 was shown only in diabetes-induced rats. In cinnamon-extracts administered groups, total and LDL cholesterol levels were lower on D30 in both healthy and diabetes-induced animals (P \< 0.001). Conclusions: C. zeylanicum lowered blood glucose, reduced food intake, and improved lipid parameters in diabetes-induced rats.

}, keywords = {Blood glucose, Ceylon cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Diabetes mellitus, Lipids, Sprague-Dawley rats}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.94719}, author = {Priyanga Ranasinghe and Sanja Perera and Mangala Gunatilake and Eranga Abeywardene and Nuwan Gunapala and Sirimal Premakumara and Kamal Perera and Dilani Lokuhetty and Prasad Katulanda} } @article {634, title = {In vitro Erythrocyte Membrane Stabilization Properties of Carica Papaya L. Leaf Extracts}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {4}, year = {2012}, month = {October ,2012}, pages = {196-202}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {196}, abstract = {

Background: Carica papaya L. fruit juice and leaf extracts are known to have many beneficial medical properties. Recent reports have claimed possible beneficial effects of C. papaya L. leaf juice in treating patients with dengue viral infections. This study aims to evaluate the membrane stabilization potential of C. papaya L. leaf extracts using an in vitro hemolytic assay. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in between June and August 2010. Two milliliters of blood from healthy volunteers and patients with serologically confirmed current dengue infection were freshly collected and used in the assays. Fresh papaya leaves at three different maturity stages (immature, partly matured, and matured) were cleaned with distilled water, crushed, and the juice was extracted with 10 ml of cold distilled water. Freshly prepared cold water extracts of papaya leaves (1 ml containing 30 μl of papaya leaf extracts, 20 μl from 40\% erythrocytes suspension, and 950 μl of phosphate buffered saline) were used in the heat-induced and hypotonic-induced hemolytic assays. In dose response experiments, six different concentrations (9.375, 18.75, 37.5, 75, 150, and 300 μg/ml) of freeze dried extracts of the partly matured leaves were used. Membrane stabilization properties were investigated with heat-induced and hypotonicity-induced hemolysis assays. Results: Extracts of papaya leaves of all three maturity levels showed a significant reduction in heat-induced hemolysis compared to controls (P \< 0.05). Papaya leaf extracts of all three maturity levels showed more than 25\% inhibition at a concentration of 37.5 μg/ml. The highest inhibition of heat-induced hemolysis was observed at 37.5 μg/ml. Inhibition activity of different maturity levels was not significantly (P \> 0.05) different from one another. Heat-induced hemolysis inhibition activity did not demonstrate a linear dose response relationship. At 37.5 μg/ml concentration of the extract, a marked inhibition of hypotonicity-induced hemolysis was observed. Conclusion: C. papaya L. leaf extracts showed a significant inhibition of hemolysis in vitro and could have a potential therapeutic effect on disease processes causing destabilization of biological membranes.

}, keywords = {Carica papaya L., Erythrocyte, in vitro, Membrane-stabilization}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.102261}, author = {Priyanga Ranasinghe and Pathmasiri Ranasinghe and WP Kaushalya M. Abeysekera and GA Sirimal Premakumara and Yashasvi S Perera and Padmalal Gurugama and Saman B Gunatilake} }