Tecoma stans

Abstract: Tecoma stans is a plant traditionally used in Mexico for the control of diabetes. Amongst the alkaloids isolated from the plant harvested in Egypt, Tecomine was shown to be one of the compounds responsible for the hypoglycemic action. Given the interest in substances able to treat type II diabetes, we isolated the main alkaloids present in the plant growing in Egypt and Brazil and tested them in vivo on db/db mice. Contrary to previous literature reports on different animal models, Tecomine was unable to modify glycemia; the only effect seen being a decrease in plasma cholesterol levels. On the contrary, when tested in vitro on glucose uptake in white adipocytes, the compound showed a marked effect. The two other alkaloids isolated, namely 5β-Hydroxyskitanthine, early called Base C, and Boschniakine were inactive both in vivo and in vitro assays.

Abstract: This work shows the inhibitory effect on glucosidase and lipase enzymes of 23 medicinal plants described as traditional treatments for diabetes in several Mexican sources. Hydroalcoholic extracts of selected plants were evaluated at 1 mg/mL for glucosidase and 0.25 mg/mL for lipase inhibitory activities, respectively. Camellia sinensis, acarbose, and orlistat were used as positive controls. Dose-response curves were done with the most active species. Sixty percent of all tested extracts inhibited more than 25% of α-glucosidase activity. C. sinensis displayed an inhibition of 85% (IC50 = 299 μg/mL), while Ludwigia octovalvis and Iostephane heterophylla showed the highest inhibition (82.7 %, IC50 = 202 μg/mL and 60.6%, CI50 = 509 μg/mL, resp.). With respect to lipase activity, L. octovalvis and Tecoma stans were the most inhibiting treatments (31.4%, IC50 = 288 μg/mL; 27.2%, IC50 = 320 μg/mL), while C. sinensis displayed 45% inhibition (IC50 = 310 μg/mL). These results indicate that a high proportion of plants used in Mexico as treatment for diabetes displays significant inhibition of these digestive enzymes.