Planta Med 2011; 77 - SL45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282168

Antidiabetic Effect of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus Berries by Using Bioactivity Guided Fractionation

N Orhan 1, M Aslan 1, DD Orhan 1, F Ergun 1, M Pektaş 2, E Bedir 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, TURKEY
  • 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, TURKEY
  • 3Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Izmir, TURKEY

Juniperus species are widely used in traditional medicine for many purposes in Anatolia. According to ethnobotanical reports which were carried out in different parts of Turkey, berries of Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus, have been ingested or decoctions of berries have been taken as tea to lower blood glucose levels (1,2).

The extracts of berries were given to normal, glucose loaded and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats at 0.5 and 1g/kg doses. Joso extracts were found to posses antidiabetic effect. Additionally, blood glucose levels of normoglycemic and glucose loaded rats were decreased by administration of ethanol extract. After 10 days administration to diabetic rats, blood glucose and malondialdehyde levels in kidney and liver were decreased significantly.

Etanol extract was fractionated by successive solvent-solvent extraction. Sub-extracts were given to the diabetic rats. Results indicated that n-butanol sub-extract (740mg/kg) were found to possess high antidiabetic activity. n-Butanol sub-extract was fractionated by column chromatography and the active principles were isolated. Shikimic acid, ferulic acid glycoside and oleuropeic acid glycoside were found in the active fraction of the extract. Since shikimic acid was found as major component of the active fraction, it was administrated to diabetic rats at 15 and 30mg/kg doses. After subacute administration of shikimic acid, some biochemical parameters and tissue antioxidant levels were also evaluated. Whereas insulin level was not elevated blood glucose levels were decreased significantly by shikimic acid (24%). Moreover, malondialdehyde levels in kidney tissues (63–64%) and liver enzymes were decreased by subacute administration of shikimic acid.

Keywords: Juniperus oxycedrus, juniper, antidiabetic, berry, hypoglycaemic, shikimic acid

Acknowledgement: We specially thank to Prof. Dr. Erdal Bedir for his help in isolation and identification of the active constituents.

This study was supported by Scientific Research Projects Management of Gazi University (07/2007–07).

References: 1. Tuzlacı E, Erol MK (1993) Fitoterapia 70: 593–610.

2. Honda G, Yeşilada E, Tabata M, Sezik E, Fujita T, Takeda Y, et al. (1996)J Ethnopharmacol 53(2): 75–87.