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Isolation and purification of the hypoglycaemic principle present in Capsicum frutescens
Author(s) -
Tolan Ian,
Ragoobirsingh Dalip,
Morrison Errol Y. St. A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1328
Subject(s) - capsaicin , diabetes mellitus , insulin , concomitant , medicine , thin layer chromatography , chromatography , extraction (chemistry) , endocrinology , traditional medicine , chemistry , receptor
Capsicum frutescens has been used to treat diabetes mellitus by traditional healers in Jamaica. Purication experiments employing thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography led to the extraction of the active principle, capsaicin. Puried capsaicin caused a decrease in blood glucose levels to 4.91 ± 0.52 ( n = 6) mmol/dL versus 6.40 ± 0.13 mmol/dL ( n = 6) for the control ( p < 0.05) at 2.5 h in an OGTT in dogs. There was a concomitant elevation in plasma insulin levels ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, it can be stated that capsaicin is the major constituent of Capsicum frutescens that is responsible for the hypoglycaemic episodes seen in the dogs. It is also apparent that the latter is mediated by insulin release. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.