A NOVEL METHOD FOR ISOLATION OF ANTHRACENE MONOHYDRATE ALKALOID FROM THE TUBERS OF STEPHANIA GLABRA FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS

摘要

Stephania glabra (Roxb.) Miers (Menispermaceae) is used primarily to cure diabetes. Alkaloids are considered to be responsible for its pharmacological activity. (-) 2,3,8,9-Tetramethoxy-6, 6a, 7, 12-tetrahydro-5H-12a - aza - benzo[a] anthracene monohydrate alkaloid having potent antidiabetic activity was isolated from the tubers of Stephania glabra and characterized by IR, 1H - NMR, 13C - NMR, elemental analysis, mass spectra and X — ray crystallographic analysis. Antidiabetic activity of isolated alkaloid was carried out in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The isolated alkaloid showed a dose dependent mild hypoglycemic effect starting from the first hour to 24th hr (38.5%) of the experiment. The results were significant and comparable with the effect of commercial oral hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide which showed 46.9% reduction under similar conditions.