Hypoglycemic effect and chlorogenic acid content in two Cecropia species

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2005-08, Vol.19 (8), p.661-664
• Main Authors: Nicasio, P, Aguilar-Santamaria, L, Aranda, E, Ortiz, S, Gonzalez, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Cecropia obtusifolia; Cecropia peltata; Cecropia Plant - chemistry; chlorogenic acid; Chlorogenic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Chlorogenic Acid - analysis; Chlorogenic Acid - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; General pharmacology; guarumbo; Hypoglycemic Agents - chemistry; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; hypoglycemic effect; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular Structure; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry; type 2 diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1722

The hypoglycemic effect of methanol leaf extracts from Cecropia obtusifolia and C. peltata was evaluated in healthy mice. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in plasma glucose levels was recorded 2 and 4 h after a single oral administration of methanol extracts (1 g/kg). This effect was correlated with the chlorogenic acid contents in both species; C. peltata, containing 19.84 ± 1.64 mg of chlorogenic acid/g of dried leaves produced the highest decrease (Dα 2,60 = 20.18, p < 0.05) of plasma glucose levels (52.8%). The extracts of C. obtusifolia from Tabasco and Veracruz, showed similar hypoglycemic effects (33.3% and 35.7%, respectively) and chlorogenic acid contents (Tukey0.05 = 1.8859) (13.3 ± 3.2 mg/g and 13.1 ± 1.6 mg/g, respectively). The hypoglycemic effect produced by different doses (0.1, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1 g/kg body wt, p.o.) of C. peltata showed a lineal relationship with chlorogenic acid content, reaching an ED50 = 0.540 g/kg body wt for extract, and an ED50 = 10.8 mg/kg body wt for chlorogenic acid. These results suggest that C. peltata is a better hypoglycemic agent than C. obtusifolia, and it could be considered for developing a phytomedicinal product to carry out clinical trials. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.