Potential for Pakistani traditional medicinal plants to combat diabetes.

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.

CONCLUSIONS

T hese findings will be helpful for further research into the use of traditional herbal medicines with antiglycation properties in the treatment of diabetes.