In Vitro Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic Activity of Leaf and Callus Extracts of Costus pictus

"Herbal medicines are promising choice over synthetic drugs. Costus pictus is commonly known as Spiral ginger’ ‘Step ladder’ or ‘Insulin plant as its leaves are proved to produce antidiabetic effects. In present study callus culture of Costus pictus was initiated from the leaf explants. The leaf and callus extract of Costus pictus in four different solvents viz ethanol, acetone, aqueous and ethyl acetate were assess for their possible effect on glucose diffusion across the dialysis membrane, a model system for glucose diffusion across the gastrointestinal tract. The ethyl acetate leaf and callus extract significantly decreased glucose movement as compared to other extract. Another approach to prevent diabetes is to control the abnormal postprandial increase of blood glucose level. This can be achieved by the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In present study the satisfactory inhibitory effect on α-amylase extracts from fresh Solanum tuberosum and α-glucosidase extracted from Sorghum vulgare seeds was investigated. The leaf and callus extract of Costus pictus in four different solvents viz ethanol, acetone, aqueous and ethyl acetate studied in vitro shows good inhibitory activity on these enzymes. Higher α-amylase inhibitory effect of about 77.53% was shown by callus extract in ethyl acetate and leaf extract in ethanol. In case of α-glucosidase ethanol callus extract showed highest inhibitory effect of about 86.94 %. The results of this study may be useful to find out the mode of action of this leaf and callus extracts of Costus pictus as α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitors and to know the possible mechanism for antidiabetic activity. "