Discussion
It is widely accepted that plants are useful sources of remedies for many diseases. Phenolic compounds in
plants have exhibited health protective effects in many ailments such as diabetes and hypertension [21].
D. reticulata has been traditionally used for the treatment of diabetic patients in some areas in Thailand.
However, there is no scientific evidence available supporting the anti-diabetic activity of this plant. In this
study, at first we evaluated a cytoprotective potential of D. reticulata extract on alloxan-induced cell death in the
pancreatic β-cell line RINm5F and then examined antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
An injection of alloxan results in a sustainable hyperglycemia, which is a critical feature of alloxan-induced
diabetic rats [1]. Alloxan selectively destroys the pancreatic β-cells leading to a decrease of insulin secretion
[16].