ABSTRACT
Abstract ................................................................................................. 133 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 134 2.2 Plant Profile ................................................................................. 136
2.2.1 Geographical Distribution ................................................ 136 2.2.2 Taxonomical Description ................................................. 136 2.2.3 Synonyms (Kiritikar and Basu, 1999) ............................. 136 2.2.4 Botanical Description (Chadha, 1976; Kiritikar and
Basu, 1999) ....................................................................... 137 2.2.5 Macroscopical and Microscopical Description of Fruits . 138
2.2.6 Phytochemistry ................................................................ 141 2.2.7 Ethnomedicinal Importance ............................................. 150 2.2.8 Economical Importance ................................................... 150 2.2.9 Pharmacological Importance ........................................... 151
2.3 Diabetes Related Investigations ................................................... 153 2.3.1 Hypoglycemic Activity .................................................... 153 2.3.2 Antidiabetic Potential ....................................................... 156 2.3.3 Hypolipidemic Activity .................................................... 157
2.3.4 Diabetic Wound Healing Activity .................................... 160 2.3.5 Antihyperglycemic Potential of Isolated Compounds ..... 162 2.3.6 In vitro A-Glucosidase and Aldose Reductase Inhibitory
Activity ............................................................................. 163 2.3.7 Clinical Study .................................................................. 164
2.4 Conclusion ................................................................................... 164 Keywords .............................................................................................. 165 References ............................................................................................. 165
ABSTRACT
The fruits of Withania coagulans (W. coagulans) Dunal (Solanaceae), commonly known as panner, is widely used by the local population for the treatment of diabetes in Northern parts of India especially in Varanasi. In Ayurvedic system of medicine, the plant W. coagulans comes under Rsyagandha. The fruits are taken in the form of infusion (10 fruits in one glass of water with overnight soaking) in empty stomach. It posseses wide range of medicinal importance such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, cardio tonic, and wound healing activities. Recently, W. coagulans has gained immense popularity in the treatment of diabetes therefore, this chapter provides up to date information about the various investigations conducted confirming it to be a potential antidiabetic tool. It shown that aqueous extract of fruits of W. coagulans (1 g/ kg: p.o.) have significantly lowered the blood sugar, serum cholesterol, serum LPO, and hepatic LPO levels. Investigation on effect of W. coagulans on glucose uptake by rat hemi-diaphragm justified its potential in peripheral utilization of glucose. Its hypoglycemic activity at the same dose was also confirmed through glucose tolerance test, normoglycemic studies, and chronic treatment. A new withanolide that is coagulanolide (4) along with four known withanolides (1-3) and (5) have been isolated from fruits, which have shown to possess significant antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity comparable to metformin. The recent investigation has depicted its role in diabetic wound healing which was evident through a significant increase in the rate of wound contraction and levels of collagen, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and decrease in level of hexosamine. A clinical study using aqueous extract of W. coagulans (Sitakasaya) showed significant results in type II diabetic patients. Thus, this chapter will act as a source of valuable information and as awareness for diabetic patients about the clinical significance of W. coagulans in treatment of diabetes.
