Hypoglycemic activity of Iraqi Rheum ribes root extract

Abstract

Rheum ribes Linn (Polygonaceae) root is used traditionally to treat diabetes, hemorrhoids, ulcers, and diarrhea. Here, the hypoglycemic effect of R. ribes root extract in healthy mice was investigated. Fasted mice were given a single dose of 50 mg/kg of three extracts of different polarity from R. ribes by gastric feeding and the blood glucose was measured 0, 1, 2, 4, and 24 h later. The aqueous extract showed a significant hypoglycemic effect. In vitro, the aqueous extract stimulated insulin release from INS-1E cells at both stimulatory (20 mM) and non-stimulatory (1 mM) glucose concentrations, thus suggesting a mechanism for the in vivo effect. The hypoglycemic active fraction was found to contain anthraquinone glycosides of aloe emodin, emodin, physcion, and chrysophanol derivatives.

Keywords::

• Anthraquinone glycoside
• hypoglycemic effect
• INS-1E cells
• NMRI mice
• Rheum ribes

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Al-khayat AH for identification of the plant material. INS-1E cells were kindly provided by Pierre Maechler, University of Genève.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.