Immunomodulatory effect of leaf extract of Murraya koenigii in diabetic mice.

CONTEXT: Extracts of different parts of Murraya koenigii were traditionally used as medicine in many countries for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate whether aqueous (AEM) and 50% methanol (MEM) leaf extracts have immunomodulatory properties to regulate oxidative stress metabolism and fight against the adverse effect of diabetes in diabetic mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alloxan-induced diabetic mice were received oral doses of extract (≥ 200 mg/kg body weight). Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (PL), and antioxidant enzymes activity were estimated by biochemical processes. Western blotting, flow cytometry study, cell count, and histology were performed to justify different aspects of diabetes-related pathology.

RESULTS: Alloxanized mice showed higher blood glucose that was further reduced after treatment of extracts for 30 days. Extract-treated diabetic mice were found lower TC, TG, and PL than diabetic mice. Rising of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities compared with diabetic mice showed antioxidant property of the extracts. We found anti-inflammatory response as it was evident by interleukin (IL)-2, 4, 10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression. In addition, the reduction of apoptosis in pancreatic cells was found upon extract-treated diabetic mice.

DISCUSSION: The leaf extracts of the plant not only have hypoglycemic property but also have certain effects to regulate mice immunology related to oxidative stress metabolism. Moreover, AEM gave better response than MEM.

CONCLUSION: Thus, the work reveals about immunomodulatory property of the leaf extracts of M. koenigii on diabetes and diabetes-related pathology in mice.