DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2016.v04i10.002

Pages: 787-795

Inhibition of Aldose reductase (AR) of polyol pathway delays the development of secondary diabetic complications in diabetes patients. This study analyses the potential of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd., an anti-diabetic plant used in traditional medicine in inhibiting Aldose reductase. Aldose reductase inhibition(ARI) assay, IC50, kinetic analysis, specificity and cytotoxicity studies were performed with the methanolic extract of V. anthelmintica seeds. The sub-fractions obtained on column chromatography and HPTLC were studied for their ARI potential. The ethyl acetate fraction of V. anthelmintica exhibited promising AR inhibition against both goat lens AR and recombinant human AR. The inhibition was of uncompetitive type implying its advantage in hyperglucose conditions. The extract did not considerably influence goat liver aldehyde reductase and showed no toxicity to normal cells at minimum inhibitory doses. The results project the possibility of developing new lead ARI molecules from V. anthelmintica.