Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE DIABETIC MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL OF PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM IN THE MSG OBESE MOUSE

PRISCILLA SURESH AND C.D. LETHI*

Abstract

Obesity is a global public health threat and one of the main risk factors for Type 2diabetes, which accounts for over 90% of all cases of Diabetes. Obesity related diabetes or adult onset diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is primarily characterized by insulin resistance, relative insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Accumulation of fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives in muscle and liver produce insulin resistance. Monosodium glutamate is a food additive commonly known as MSG, Ajinomotto, is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) 4mg/g body weight was administered subcutaneously to the neonatal mice. Each animal received eight injections on every alternate day from the 5th day of birth onwards. The mouse was tested for obesity and diabetes on the 60th day. In order to manage type 2 diabetes the Pterocarpus marsupium which is used as hypoglycemic plant in folklore medicine was chosen. The obese mouse was force-fed with Pterocarpus crude extract and Pterocarpus distillate separately every day for 60 days. Lee index of the mouse, fasting blood sugar level, oral glucose tolerance test and pancreatic histology were studied. Administration of MSG has shown impact on Lee index, induced hyperglycemia and the mouse could not show glucose homeostasis. The most marked morphological change in obese mouse was an increase in size of islets and mean islet area was significantly greater in obese mouse compared to the control. P.marsupium treatment to the MSG obese mouse showed hypoglycemia and glucose homeostasis. Pancreatic sections in the Pterocarpus marsupium crude and Pterocarpus marsupium distillate treated obese mouse showed the formation of new islets by neogenesis from pancreatic ducts. In the MSG obese mouse, the effect of the treatment was more significant in Pterocarpus marsupium crude extract than distillate. Pterocarpus marsupium has potential to manage Type 2 diabetes.