Investigation of Antidiabetic Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. Fruits in Experimental Animal Models

Hypoglycemic effects were investigated in the ethanolic extract of fruits of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. with long evans rats (100-120 g). Residual gut sucrose content, gut perfusion and disaccharidase activity studies were carried out to assess these activities. The residual gut sucrose content study was carried out to reveal the amount of sucrose remaining in the gastro intestinal tract (GIT) at six different segments. The ethanolic fruit extract of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. significantly increases the residual sucrose content throughout the gut after sucrose ingestion. Study on intestinal enzyme activity showed that the extract caused a significant (p < 0.05), dose dependent inhibition of intestinal disaccharidase enzyme activity. Evaluation of the effect of the plant extract on intestinal enzyme activity showed significant inhibition of intestinal disaccharidase activity, suggesting that reduction of sucrose absorption may be partly related to the inhibition of disaccharidase activity in the gut. The gut perfusion analysis showed that the extract significantly reduced intestinal glucose absorption. The results of the present study suggest that ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. has significant antidiabetic effects in a dose dependent manner and this may be effective in the treatment of diabetes.