Potential for Pakistani traditional medicinal plants to combat diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential of medicinal plants used in traditional healing in Pakistan to inhibit the glycation process. This may be useful in combatting diabetes mellitus and its complications. METHODS: The in vitro antiglycation activity of 10 medicinal plants was examined by testing the ability of the extracts to inhibit the methyl-glyoxal-mediated development of fluorescence of bovine serum albumin. RESULTS: Of the tested plants, Persicaria barbata, Geranium collinum and Berberis lyciumshowed significant inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end products. The inhibitory capacity of these plants was 68.89%, 62.06% and 54.23%, respectively, compared with the positive control (rutin; 86%). All other plants inhibited AGE formation non-significantly. CONCLUSION: T hese findings will be helpful for further research into the use of traditional herbal medicines with antiglycation properties in the treatment of diabetes.