Abstract

SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION OF ANTIDIABETIC PLANTS OF SIKKIM HIMALAYA

Prasanta Kumar Mitra*, Tanaya Ghosh and Prasenjit Mitra

Abstract

There are enormous medicinal plants in Sikkim Himalaya. Folk healers of Sikkim are using many medicinal plants to treat diabetic patients. Most of the plants are not scientifically validated. Aim of the present work was to give scientific validation of those antidiabetic plants. 52 medicinal plants were brought from the folk healers of Sikkim who claimed that they collect the plants from different parts of Sikkim Himalaya. Antidiabetic activity of the plant leaves were determined by in vitro assays of alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase by standard methodologies. Results showed that 44 medicinal plants out of 52 can inhibit alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase activities. Animal experiments followed by clinical trial are now needed to confirm the antidiabetic activity of the plants. Anti diabetic compounds may also be isolated from these plant leaves.

Keywords: Antidiabetic plants, Sikkim Himalaya, folk healers of Sikkim, alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase.