Introduction.
Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused due to inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient quantities of the insulin.
The drugs used in the treatment of diabetes are called “Antidiabetics”.
e.g. Synthetic drugs:
Metformin.
Glipizide.
Natural Drugs:
Pterocarpus.
Gymnema.
Bitter gourd.
Jambul.
Pterocarpus.
Synonyms:
Indian kino.
Malabar Kino
Bijasal
Asana
Biological Source:
It consists of the dried juice of the plant known as “Pterocarpus marsupium” belonging to the family “Leguminosae”, obtained by making vertical incisions to the stem.
Geographical Distribution:
Indigenous to the Indian continent and found in hilly parts of the,
Maharashtra
Gujrat
Asam
West Bengal
Madhya Pradesh etc.
Morphological Characters:
Color: Ruby red
Odor: Odorless
Taste: Astringent
Size: 3-5 to 10 mm granules.
Shape: Angular grains.
Extra Features:
Pieces of the drug are irregular, angular, glistening and break with a vitreous fracture.
Partially soluble in water and completely soluble in alcohol.
Chemical Constituents:
The drug contains active chemical constituents as “Tannins”.
The chief active chemical constituent of the drug is,
Kinotannic acid.
Other active constituents of the drug are,
Kinoin
Kino red
Catechol
Resins
Gallic acid.
Identification Tests:
Drug solution + Ferrous sulfate = Green color
Drug + Alkali (NaOH) = Violet color.
Drug + Mineral Acid = Ppt formation.
Uses:
Antidiabetic.
Powerful astringent.
In treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.
To control bleeding.
Gymnema.
Synonyms:
Madhu Nashini.
Gudmar.
Biological Source:
It consists of the dried as well as fresh leaves of the plant known as “Gymnema sylvestre” belonging to the family “Asclepiadaceae”.
Geographical Distribution:
It's a climber indigenous to the Indian continent and found in many states like,
Maharashtra
Gujrat
Asam
UPl
Punjab etc.
Morphological Characters:
Color: Green
Odor: Aromatic and pleasant
Taste: Tasteless.
Size: 3-5 X 1-2 cm
Shape: Ovate or elliptic and has an acute or acuminate apex.
Extra Features:
Leaves have the property to cause reversible paralysis of taste buds specially for sweet and bitter taste.
Lower surface of the leaf is more pubscent,
Chemical Constituents:
The drug contains active chemical constituents as “triterpenoid glycosides”.
The chief active chemical constituent of the drug is,
Gymnemic acid.
Other active constituents of the drug are,
Hentriacontane.
Pentatriacontane
D-quercitol
Inositol
Inert constituents of the drug are,
Chlorophylls.
Various acids like: Formic, Tartaric, butyric etc.
Mucilage.
Calcium oxalate crystals.
Identification Tests:
Anesthesia of taste buds.
Leaves + Water = Foaming, addition of Dil HCL causes precipitation.
Uses:
Antidiabetic.
Stomachic.
Mild laxative.
Diuretic.
Substitute:
Gymnema hirsutum.