The effects of leaf extracts of Myristica, Piper, Tabebuia species and the gall extract of Quercus infectoria on insulin secreting cells.

The occurrence of diabetes in Malaysia is increasing at 8.2% of the nation's population. Local plants have potential to be utilized as the source for the development of novel drugs to combat diabetes. A total of 28 methanol extracts of various plant parts of 13 tropical plant species were evaluated for their ability to induce insulin secretion from the cells screened. Out of the 28, 4 plant extracts showed insulinotropic (insulin releasing) activity. They were the leaf extracts of Myristicafragrans, Piper muricatum, Tabebuia chrysantha, and the gall extract of Quercus infectoria. Results were positively different from control insulin concentration. M.fragrans leaf extract showed the highest insulinotropic activity.