Hypoglycaemic and secondary complication ameliorating effects of solvent fractions of Bauhinia Thonningii in experimental diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Bauhinia thonningii is a flowering plant of African origin with scientifically proved medicinal values of the crude extracts. This work was designed to study the effects of solvent fractions of Bauhinia thonningii leaves on fasting glucose level and blood lipid parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats; towards isolation and characterization of the pure active compound.

Design: Hundred milligram per kilogram body weight (100 mg/kg bw) of four different solvent fractions of the plant (n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, ethyl acetate) were orally administered to randomly allotted diabetic rats (≥200mg/dl) for 12 days. Blood samples were collected for estimation of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglycerides and Coronary Risk Index (CRI).

Results: Results showed that chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions  reduced fasting blood glucose to a level comparable with reference drug  (glibenclamide). Coronary Risk Index, which is a measure of the tendency of a cardiovascular disorder, was also improved by ethyl acetate fractions of this plant. These results suggest that ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions of Bauhinia thonningii have a potent hypoglycaemic ability and are capable of reversing hyperglycaemic secondary complications. Also, results showed  that the bioactive molecules are cations.

Conclusion: Findings from the study revealed that the active compound(s) are located in these fractions paving way for isolation and characterization of the active compounds.