‘Seeds of Mahogany safe in treating diabetes’
August 17th, 2012 - 6:03 pm ICT by IANSKolkata, Aug 17 (IANS) Scientists in West Bengal claim that the seeds of the big leaf mahogany tree, that are used to treat diabetes in folk medicines, are non-toxic and safe natural product.
Scientists at the department of Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering at the Jadavpur University say they have clinching evidence that the seeds of the mahogany may be a potent non-toxic addition to the arsenal of safe natural products for the treatment of diabetes — a major metabolic disorder of recent time.
Local people of East Midnapore, West Bengal, use a crude concentrated extract of its seeds for diabetes treatment.
“In the animal model-based toxicity study, aqueous (water-based) extracts of the seeds were repeatedly given orally to groups of Wister albino rats for a period of 28 days, at levels of 0, 500, 1500 and 2000 mg per kg of body weight,” says Utpal Raychaudhuri of the Jadavpur University.
According to the study published in 2012 in the Science and Culture Journal - a journal published by the Indian Science News Association - the extract did not produce any mortality in the animals even up to the dose level of 2,000 mg a kg.
Also, the results of various blood and biochemical tests were normal. Further no changes were noticed in the liver, intestine, heart, kidney and stomach of the animals.
According to the World Health Organisation, diabetes mellitus or simply diabetes is a major metabolic disorder of recent time.
It may trigger major complications such as hypoglycemia (where blood sugar - glucose - is too low) or cardiovascular (heart-related) problems.
Plant constituents with the ability to prevent diabetes-related complications provide an encouraging prospect, but it is of paramount importance to test them for any toxic effects.
One of such plants is the big leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) - a beautiful, lofty, evergreen tree native to central America, Mexico, south America and India.
The seeds of the big leaf mahogany may, therefore, be a potent non-toxic addition to the arsenal of safe natural products in the battle against diabetes.
- Coriander-fortified bread is long-lasting and nutritious: Kolkata research - Jul 19, 2012
- Poisonous shrub Jatropha acts as natural pain killer - Jul 12, 2011
- Scientists discover better drugs for sleep problems - Apr 09, 2012
- Beware: Fresh look of vegetables could be due to hazardous chemicals - Jul 26, 2012
- Higher metabolic rate can make you age faster! - Apr 28, 2011
- Fresh threat to Indian vultures from cattle medicine - Aug 24, 2012
- Plant oil may be a key in the fight against obesity - Mar 24, 2011
- Friendly bugs can now be delivered safely to guts - Sep 06, 2011
- China readies next generation rockets - Mar 05, 2012
- Cinnamon can replace toxic chemicals used to create gold nanoparticles - Nov 30, 2010
- Neurons controlling hunger also drive drug addiction: Study - Jun 25, 2012
- India launches bio-toilets for rural homes - Jun 24, 2012
- Deadly scorpion venom used to develop safe, ecological pesticide - Jan 12, 2010
- Lower levels of 'rotten eggs' gas in blood linked to obesity, diabetes - Apr 28, 2010
- Mexican scientists focus on producing biofuels from trash - Apr 15, 2011
Tags: albino rats, biochemical engineering, biochemical tests, culture journal, diabetes mellitus, diabetes treatment, evergreen tree native, folk medicines, indian science, jadavpur university, leaf mahogany, mahogany tree, metabolic disorder, midnapore, plant constituents, sugar glucose, swietenia macrophylla, treatment of diabetes, west bengal, world health organisation