Antidiabetes constituents, cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartanol, from Ficus krishnae

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 25;15(6):e0235221. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235221. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Ficus krishnae stem bark and leaves are used for diabetes treatment in traditional medicines. Stem bark of F. krishnae was sequentially extracted with hexane, methanol and water, and these extracts were tested for their antihyperglyceamic activity by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in overnight fasted glucose loaded normal rats. Hexane extract showed significant glucose lowering activity in OGTT, and the triterpene alcohols (cycloartenol+24-methylenecycloartanol) (CA+24-MCA) were isolated together from it by activity guided isolation and characterized by NMR and mass spectroscopy. The ratio of the chemical constituents CA and 24-MCA in (CA+24-MCA) was determined as 2.27:1.00 by chemical derivatization and gas chromatographic quantification. (CA+24-MCA) in high fat diet-streptozotocin induced type II diabetic rats showed significant antidiabetes activity at 1 mg/kg and ameliorated derailed blood glucose and other serum biochemical parameters. Cytoprotective activity of (CA+24-MCA) from glucose toxicity was evaluated in cultured RIN-5F cells by MTT assay and fluorescent microscopy. (CA+24-MCA) in in vitro studies showed enhanced cell viability in RIN-5F cells and significant protection of beta cells from glucose toxicity. Both in in vivo and in vitro studies (CA+24-MCA) showed enhancement in insulin release from the beta cells. In short term toxicity studies in mice (CA+24-MCA) did not show any conspicuous toxic symptoms. The combination of the phytosterols (CA+24-MCA) obtained through activity guided isolation of the stem bark of F. krishnae showed significant activity, and therefore is a promising candidate for new generation antidiabetes drug development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Ficus / chemistry*
  • Ficus / metabolism
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Phytosterols / chemistry*
  • Phytosterols / isolation & purification
  • Phytosterols / therapeutic use
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Triterpenes / chemistry*
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Triterpenes / therapeutic use

Substances

  • 24-methylenecycloartenol
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Phytosterols
  • Triterpenes
  • cycloartenol

Grants and funding

Authors acknowledge financial support for this study from (i) Plan Project programme (P007) of the Government of Kerala, India and (ii) Core Research Grant (CRG/2019/000131) of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.