OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of aqueous solution of Biophytum sensitivum leaf extract (BSEt) on normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats.

METHODSDiabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats by the administration of STZ-nicotinamide (40, 110 mg/kg b.w., respectively) intraperitoneally. BSEt (200 mg/kg) was administered to diabetic rats for 28 days. The effect of extract on blood glucose, plasma insulin, total haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin, liver glycogen and carbohydrate metabolism regulating enzymes of liver was studied in diabetic rats.

RESULTSBSEt significantly reduced the blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels and significantly increased the total haemoglobin, plasma insulin and liver glycogen levels in diabetic rats. It also increased the hexokinase activity and decreased glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase activities in diabetic rats.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of our study suggest that BSEt possesses a promising effect on STZ-nicotinamide-induced diabetes.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Enzymes ; analysis ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Glycogen ; analysis ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; blood ; Liver ; chemistry ; enzymology ; Male ; Niacinamide ; toxicity ; Oxalidaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin ; toxicity ; Treatment Outcome

AIM: This study was aimed at evaluating the anti-diabetic activity of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the leaf material of Barringtonia acutangula in a diabetic animal model. METHODS: The ethanolic and aqueous extracts (250 and 500 mg·kg(-1) body weight) of the leaves of B. acutangula were assessed for antidiabetic activity in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes animal model following 21 days of treatment. Glibenclamide (0.6 mg·kg(-1) p.o.) was used as a positive control. The hematological parameters, such as blood glucose level, urea, creatinin, cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were examined. RESULTS: An acute toxicity study (5 000 mg·kg(-1), p.o.) did not produce any symptoms of toxicity. Significant reductions in blood glucose level, and serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were noted in animals treated with the extract. The high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC) level was found to increase as compared with the diabetic control group. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the leaf aqueous and ethanolic extracts of B. acutangula have anti-diabetic effects. The aqueous extract of B. acutangula produced a similar effect when compared with the ethanol extract. It is proposed that consumption of B. acutangula in some form like tea may help the management of diabetes.
Animals ; Barringtonia ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Triglycerides ; blood