Prospecting the Antidiabetic Potential of Alisma orientale

This thesis concerns antidiabetic studies on the plant species Alisma orientale which has a long history of being used traditionally for this purpose. The aim of this research is to analyze the antidiabetic activity previously reported, to determine active principles that help to explain this species’ biological activity as a whole, to provide justification for the traditional use of this plant, and to explore leads for the development of antidiabetic remedies, as well as the standardization of herbal complexes which utilize in part this species in the treatment or prevention of diabetes and its complications. Such information is potentially useful for a number of populations including traditional healers, researches, and practitioners. The project employed various chemical separation techniques including extraction, partitioning, open column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and high-performance chromatography, as well as numerous detection and characterization methods including spray reagents, UV-Vis, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, various biological tests were conducted including an in vivo streptozotocin animal study, and in vitro glucose-gut absorption, glucose-uptake induction, and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. In the end the project observed possible antidiabetic activity of Alisma orientale and its components in vivo and in vitro in the glucose uptake, glucose gut absorption, and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. These results may help to explain the bioactivity previously reported for this species and provide information for further study of this species with respect to its potentially antidiabetic properties.