Structure Elucidation, Phytochemical Investigation and Pharmacological Screening of Spinacia Oleracea for Anti-Diabetic Activity

Abstract

Abstract The present study was based on structure elucidation, phytochemical investigation, and pharmacological screening of Spinacia oleracea for anti-diabetic activity. The qualitative phytochemical screening of the extracts was analysed for the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides and anthraquinones, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds, proteins and amino acids, saponins, sterols and or triterpenes. In this study, the methanolic extract of S. oleracea had shown the presence of numerous phytoconstituents. The isolation of compounds was performed on the methanolic extract of S. oleracea using column chromatography. In S. oleracea, erythritol was isolated kaempferol was isolated. The compounds were identified based on the spectral studies i.e., Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR & 13C-NMR) and Mass Spectra and the structure was elucidated. The diabetic rats exhibited lower activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in pancreas and hepatic tissues as compared with normal rats. The activities of SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH were found to be increased in S. oleracea (200mg/kg) treated diabetic rats. The increased level of malondialdehyde, an index of lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats was also found to be reverted to near-normal status in extract-treated groups. S. oleracea (200mg/kg) ameliorated the histopathological changes in the hepatic and pancreas tissues. Glibenclamide was used as a reference and showed similar antidiabetic effect. The structural changes are clearly oxidative in nature and are associated with development of vascular disease in diabetes. In results, it demonstrated statistically significant hypoglycemic and hypocholesteremia-like action when observed and compared with control group. It also exhibited potent anti-oxidant potential. In conclusion, it might be said that Spinacia oleracea is effective in the management of diabetes mellitus having numerous potential bioactive molecules. It could be used in the treatment of Type-II diabetes mellitus and to replenish the electrolytes and minerals in abundance.