Novel Mulberry Asava for Diabetes Treatment: Formulation Optimization and Preclinical Studies

Abstract

Mulberry (Species Morus alba, Moraceae) is known as the plant of immortality. Actives present in mulberry are triterpenes, bioflavonoid, alkaloids, major constituent is 1-deoxynojirimycin. Mainly the plant has been used for bronchitis, wound healing, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, etc.
Looking at prospects of asava preparation, we have prepared novel mulberry asava. Being alcoholic preparation may, extract all actives in it, will be stable and will demonstrate improved biopharmaceutical properties.
Plackett- Burman design was used to optimize mulberry asava which was further scaled up to 18 lit industrially and analysed for physicochemical characteristics and antidiabetic activity.
In pharmacological screening, the effect of Mulberry asava on blood glucose level in diabetic and non-diabetic rats was observed to evaluate its in vivo antidiabetic activity. The blood glucose level was reduced from 267.33 to 97.33 in test and 97.66 mg/dl in standard respectively. While in control it was 355.5 to 394.5 mg/dl. These observations clearly indicate that formulations reduce blood glucose level and bring the glucose metabolism towards a normal level.
Hence mulberry leaves sometimes a waste of sericulture industry can be used as single plant-based asava for antidiabetic activity and can serve Type II diabetic population.