The research involves the biochemical study of home-grown plants, along the Texas-Mexico border that people use for the treatment of diabetes. Cymbopogon better known as lemon grass is easy found in Austria, Africa and Asia and it is used a medicinal plant along the Texas-Mexico border for the treatment of diabetes and other problems relate with this illness. In these studies, we have analyzed aqueous extracts from the plant for amino acids, proteins and carbohydrates. Among the techniques used are: UV-visible spectrophotometry, pH measurement, sugar content determination using the Bennedict Reagent and the sulfuric acid-phenol method, amino acid analysis by means of ninhydryn, and protein tests using the Biuret reagent. Preliminary results show evidence of the presence of amino acids and proteins in the extracts. No reducing sugars were detected in our experiments. Analysis of plant extracts by using SDS electrophoresis and protein separation by means of preparative column chromatography has been done presently we are developing methods for the analysis of plant extracts using RP-HPLC. Further work involves the determination of total phenol content in the aqueous extracts.

Study of the biochemistry of lemon grass: A widely used diabetes remedy

2019 Spring National Meeting

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