Anti hyperglycemic Effect of Meryta denhamii Seem. Fruits and Phytochemical study of its Saponin Content

In this study Meryta denhamii Seem. fruits (Araliaceae) were tested for the antihyperglycemic effect against alloxan induced hyperglycemia in rats using metformin as standard drug. The alcoholic extract and n-butanol fraction (saponins rich fraction) of the fruits exhibited significant antihyperglycemic effect (42.8 and 38.4 % of change, respectively, comparing to 67.1% for metformin). The n-butanol fraction was subjected to chemical study which resulted in isolation of four monodesmosidic oleanane saponins. Their structures were established based on their MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data as 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl] oleanolic acid, 3-O-[α-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid, 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-α-Larabinofuranosyl] oleanolic acid and 3-O-[α-Larabinofuranosyl-(1-4)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid.