Glucose uptake-stimulatory activity of Tinospora cordifolia stem extracts in Ehrlich ascites tumor cell model system.

Diabetes mellitus is a multifunctional disorder
with several causes and multiple consequences. Nutraceuticals
play a vital role in ameliorating diabetic
condition. The stems of the plant, Tinospora cordifolia
(T. cordifolia) are often used in Ayurvedic medicine for the
management of diabetes. Earlier studies have shown that
T. cordifolia to be a potent antidiabetic plant material by
virtue of being rich in nutraceuticals. In the present study
we were interested to know if, T. cordifolia stem extracts
are able to promote glucose uptake through glucose
transporters, 1 (GLUT1) and 3 (GLUT3), which are
responsible for basal glucose uptake. Hence, Ehrlich
ascites tumor (EAT) cells were chosen as a model which
harbours both GLUT1 and GLUT3 and glucose uptake
was measured using a fluorescent analog 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-
oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-
NBDG). Serially, solvent extracted T. cordifolia stems,
especially water, ethanol and methanol extracts showed
glucose uptake activity. Uptake was stimulated in a dose
dependent manner at dosages of 1–100 μg. Glucosestimulating
activity does not seem to be solely due to
polyphenol content since methanol extract, with high
amount of polyphenol content (9.5±0.1 gkg−1), did not
stimulate higher glucose uptake activity when compared to
water extract.