Antidiabetic Drugs: Pterocarpus and Gymnema.

 

Introduction.

  • Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused due to inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient quantities of the insulin.

  • The drugs used in the treatment of diabetes are called “Antidiabetics”.

    • e.g. Synthetic drugs:

      • Metformin.

      • Glipizide.

    • Natural Drugs:

      • Pterocarpus.

      • Gymnema.

      • Bitter gourd.

      • Jambul.

Pterocarpus.

  • Synonyms:

    • Indian kino.

    • Malabar Kino

    • Bijasal

    • Asana

  • Biological Source:

    • It consists of the dried juice of the plant known as “Pterocarpus marsupium” belonging to the family “Leguminosae”, obtained by making vertical incisions to the stem.

  • Geographical Distribution:

    • Indigenous  to the Indian continent and found in hilly parts of the,

      • Maharashtra

      • Gujrat

      • Asam

      • West Bengal

      • Madhya Pradesh etc.

  • Morphological Characters:

    • Color: Ruby red

    • Odor: Odorless

    • Taste: Astringent

    • Size: 3-5 to 10 mm granules.

    • Shape: Angular grains.

  • Extra Features:

    • Pieces of the drug are irregular, angular, glistening and break with a vitreous fracture.

    • Partially soluble in water and completely soluble in alcohol.

  • Chemical Constituents:

    • The drug contains active chemical constituents as “Tannins”.

    • The chief active chemical constituent of the drug is,

      • Kinotannic acid.

    • Other active constituents of the drug are,

      • Kinoin

      • Kino red

      • Catechol

      • Resins

      • Gallic acid.

  • Identification Tests:

  1. Drug solution + Ferrous sulfate = Green color

  2. Drug + Alkali (NaOH) = Violet color.

  3. Drug + Mineral Acid = Ppt formation.

  • Uses:

    1. Antidiabetic.

    2. Powerful astringent.

    3. In treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.

    4. To control bleeding.


Gymnema.

  • Synonyms:

    • Madhu Nashini.

    • Gudmar.

  • Biological Source:

    • It consists of the dried as well as fresh leaves of the plant known as “Gymnema sylvestre” belonging to the family “Asclepiadaceae”.

  • Geographical Distribution:

    • It's a climber indigenous  to the Indian continent and found in many states like,

      • Maharashtra

      • Gujrat

      • Asam

      • UPl

      • Punjab etc.

  • Morphological Characters:

    • Color: Green

    • Odor: Aromatic and pleasant

    • Taste: Tasteless.

    • Size: 3-5 X 1-2 cm

    • Shape: Ovate or elliptic and has an acute or acuminate apex.

  • Extra Features:

    • Leaves have the property to cause reversible paralysis of taste buds specially for sweet and bitter taste.

    • Lower surface of the leaf is more pubscent,

  • Chemical Constituents:

    • The drug contains active chemical constituents as “triterpenoid glycosides”.

    • The chief active chemical constituent of the drug is,

      • Gymnemic acid.

    • Other active constituents of the drug are,

      • Hentriacontane. 

      • Pentatriacontane

      • D-quercitol

      • Inositol

    • Inert constituents of the drug are,

      • Chlorophylls.

      • Various acids like: Formic, Tartaric, butyric etc.

      • Mucilage.

      • Calcium oxalate crystals.

  • Identification Tests:

  1. Anesthesia of taste buds.

  2. Leaves + Water = Foaming, addition of Dil HCL causes precipitation.

  • Uses:

    1. Antidiabetic.

    2. Stomachic.

    3. Mild laxative.

    4. Diuretic.

  • Substitute:

    1. Gymnema hirsutum.

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