Blighia sapida; The Plant and Its Hypoglycins an Overview.

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Date

2009

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Journal of Scientific Research ,Institute of Chemistry, University of The Punjabi Pakistan

Abstract

Blighia sapida g; family Sapindaceae is a multi purpose medicinal plant popular in the western Africa. It is well known for its food value and its poisonous chemical contents being hypoglycins A& B (unusual amino acids.) The hypoglycin Ais more available in the fruit than hypoglycin B. Hypoglycin A have been used as glucose inhibitor therapy, thereby giving room for the plant to be used for orthodox medicinal purposes in future. Its other therapeutic values have been reported as well. The ingestion of hypoglycin A forms a metabolite called methylenecyclopropane acetyl CoA (MCPACoA) which inhibit several enzymes A dehydrogenases which are essential for gluconeogenesis. This review covers history, description, origin and uses of Blighia sapida with emphasy on the fruit and its associated biologically active component (hypoglycins) and tries to show why the plant can be used as the sources of many potential drugs in treatment of diseases, especially glucose related ones. The mechanism of hypoglycin A metabolism is also explained. The hypoglycin A potential glucosesuppressing activities warranted further studies for the development of new anti-diabetes drugs with improved therapeutic values

Description

Plant Review

Keywords

Blighia sapida; Sapindaceae; hypoglycins; dehydrogenases; metabolism

Citation

Atolani, O., Olatunji, G. A. and Fabiyi, O. A. (2009). Blighia sapida; The Plant and Its Hypoglycins an Overview. Journal of Scientific Research 39 (2): 15-25.

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