Chemical Composition and Hyperglycemic Properties of Poliomintha longiflora and Lippia graveolens Infusions

A comparative analysis on the chemical composition and potential antidiabetic properties of the infusions obtained from two Mexican oreganos, Poliomintha longiflora and Lippia graveolens, were carried out. The aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Mexican oreganos caused significant decrease in blood glucose levels in both normal and nicotine adenosine dinucleotide (NAD)-streptozotozin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice when compared with vehicle-treated groups (p <0.05) (Figure 1). However, these samples demonstrated a significant hyperglycemic activity in vivo. The overall results have indicated that the use of P. longiflora and L. graveolens in the treatment of diabetes could be risky. HPLC profiles of the aqueous extracts of both plants revealed the presence of carvacrol and luteolin as the main components.

Figure 1. Effect of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of P. longiflora on blood glucose levels in nicotine adenosine dinucleotide (NAD)-streptozotozin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Glibenclamide was used as positive control (p<0.05).