International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences INT.J.PH.SCI.,JAN-APRIL 2010;2(1):382-385 ISSN 0975-4725 www.ijps.info
Original Research Manuscript
Antidiabetic Activity of Cassia fistula Linn. Bark in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats.
S.N. MALPANI*, K.P. MANJUNATH, HASANPASHA SHOLAPUR, R.V. SAVADI, KUSUM S. AKKI AND S.S.DARADE Dept. of Pharmacognosy, K.L.E.S’ College of Pharmacy, Vidyanagar, Hubli-580031, Karnataka, India. Corresponding author:mail.id:
[email protected]
ABSTRACT The antidiabetic potential of the total alcoholic extract & its ethyl acetate fraction of the bark of Cassia fistula was studied in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significant reduction in blood glucose levels than alcoholic extract & was also found effective in restoring the blood lipids to normal levels. The activity was found comparable with standard drug glibenclamide. The present investigation of the plant established some pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim and effect of glycoside containing fraction that is used as an antidiabetic. Keywords: Cassia fistula, Antidiabetic, Alloxan induced, Ethyl acetate fraction.
INTRODUCTION:
Cassia fistula Linn. also known as golden shower, Indian
Diabetes is one of the most prevalence chronic diseases in the
laburnum, belongs to the family Leguminoceae. In traditional
world. This is a chronic incurable condition due to insulin
medicine, it is used in the treatment of hematemesis, pruritis,
deficiency that affect 10% of the population. The number of
intestinal disorders, leucoderma, diabetes, & as antipyretic,
diabetic people is expected to rise from present estimate of 150
analgesic & laxative.3-4 Cassia fistula is a moderate sized
million to 230 million in 2025. For a long time, diabetes has been
deciduous tree, distributed throughout India. It is 8-15m to 24m
treated with several medicinal plants or their extract based on the
in height, with greenish grey smooth bark when young & rough,
folklore medicine. Nowadays herbal medicines are highly
dark brown when mature. Leaflets 8–12 pair, flowers yellow,
recommended for the treatment of diabetes inspite of other
long drooping racemes. Pod cylindrical & pulpy. Seeds light
therapeutic option, which can produce serious side effects & in
brown, hard & shiny.5-7
addition they are not safe during pregnancy. Therefore the search
So attempt has been made to study the antidiabetic activity of the
for the more effective and safer hypoglycemic agents has
glycoside containing fractions.8-10
continued to be an important area of active research. Furthermore, after the recommendation made by WHO on
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
diabetes mellitus, investigation on hypoglycemic agent from
Plant:
1-2
medicinal plants has become more important.
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S.N. MALPANI et al: Antidiabetic Activity of Cassia fistula Linn. Bark in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats.
The bark of Cassia fistula L. were collected from the local areas
The blood glucose was monitered after every 24 hr of
of Hubli, Karnataka and authenticated by Dr. B.D. Huddar,
alloxanisation. The diabetic condition was observed after 48 hrs.
Head, Department of Botany, H.S.K. Science Institute, Hubli.
The animals with sugar level more than 200 mg/dl were selected
Preparation of the extracts:
for study.13
The Cassia fistula L. bark was shade dried at room temperature,
Experimental design:-
pulverized, and extracted with 95% ethanol at temperature 30-
The animals were segregated into five groups of six rats each.
0
50 C, in a Soxhlet extractor for 48 hours. It was further
Group-I served as Normal
concentrated using rota flash evaporator giving a dark brownish
Control, Group-II as Negative control, Group-III as Standard (5
residue(27.39%) which was stored in dessicator. The total
mg/kg), Group-IV received Ethyl acetate extract; Group-V
alcoholic extract was dissolved in water & fractionated with pet
received Total alcoholic extract. All the doses were given orally
ether, benzene and ethyl acetate (9.12%). The ethyl acetate and
for 14 days.
alcoholic extract were selected for study on the basis of
On 15th day of treatment, blood samples were collected
phytochemical screening.11 The suspensions of alcoholic & ethyl
by retro-orbital plexus puncture method under mild ether
acetate extracts were prepared by using 1% Tween for the study.
anesthesia & serum was separated by centrifugation. The serum
Animals:
was analysed for blood glucose level, total cholesterol and total
Wistar albino rats of either sex weighing around 200-300gms
triglyceride level.14-15.
were used for the Antidiabetic activity. They were housed in polypropylene cages & fed with laboratory diet & water ad
Statistical evaluation:
libitum. All the protocols were performed in accordance with
The quantitative measurement were made on six animals in each
Institutional Animal Ethical Committee.
group & the values of biochemical estimation were expressed as
Toxicity studies in mice:
mean + SEM. The data obtained were subjected to one way
Albino mice of either sex weighing between 20-30gm were used
ANOVA followed by Dunnette multiple comparison test.16
during investigation. The mice were supplied by KLES COP, Hubli-31.The animals were fasted over night. As per following
Results:
the OECD guidelines fixed dose method procedure, the effective
The diabetic animals showed significant decrease in blood
dose for both extract was found to be 200mg/kg body weight.
12
glucose level after 14 days treatment. However the ethyl acetate
Standard drug used:
extract was more effective & results are comparable with that of
Glibenclamide tablet (Daonil Tab.) manufactured by Aventis
reference drug, gliblenclamide (Table–I). Alloxan treated rats
Pharma was used as standard drug. It was purchased from Nandi
shown substantial weight loss & affect carbohydrate & lipid
Pharma, Vidyanagar, Hubli-31. The tablets were suspended in
metabolism. Diabetic rats treated with alcoholic extract & ethyl
distilled water using tween-80 as suspending agent & used for
acetate fraction were also found effective in normalizing blood
study.
lipids like cholesterol & triglycerides (Table-II). The
Induction of diabetes:-
phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of
The albino rats 200-300gm of either sex were allowed to fast for
tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds,
24 hrs prior to experimentation & induced diabetic by injection
carbohydrates, steroids & triterpenoids.
of single dose of Alloxan 120gm/b.wt. (Spectrachem Pvt. Ltd. Company) in normal saline by I.P. route. After one hour of alloxanisation the animals were given feed ad libitum & 5% dextrose solution for a day to avoid early hypoglycemic phase.
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S.N. MALPANI et al: Antidiabetic Activity of Cassia fistula Linn. Bark in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats.
Table 1: Effect of fraction and extract of cassia fistula linn. Bark on blood glucose levels & body weights of the rats. Blood glucose levels (mg/dl)
Groups Normal control
Body weights (gm)
Before the treatment
After the treatment
Before the treatment
After the treatment
90.17 + 2.12**
87.28 + 9.17**
163.66 + 8.83*
176.33 + 3.84*
Untreated
352.68 + 97.01
369.05 + 69.85
283.33 + 2.90
264.33 + 8.64
Standard
387.76 + 31.95***
124.66 + 6.12**
210.33 + 12.99*
198.00 + 20.13*
Ethyl acetate fraction
475.47 + 71.11***
183.00 + 67.18***
254.66 + 5.69***
248.67 + 4.17***
Alcoholic extract 424.04 + 43.30*** 293.23 + 65.48*** 216.33 + 10.86* 208.67 + 9.20** Values are expressed as MEAN + SEM. *P < 0.01, **P < 0.05, ***P > 0.05, when compared with diabetic control. Table 2: Effect of fraction and extract of cassia fistula linn. Bark on biochemical parameters. Groups
Biochemical Parameters Total cholesterol (mg/dl)
Total triglycerides (mg/dl)
36.70 + 3.01**
73.99 + 18.11*
Normal control Untreated
50.85 + 1.71
150.7 + 11.20
Standard
40.15 + 8.29**
81.15 + 12.76**
Ethyl acetate fraction
36.99 + 6.65**
85.62 + 22.85***
Alcoholic extract 45.75 + 8.87** 81.79 + 22.47** Values are expressed as MEAN + SEM. *P < 0.01, **P < 0.05, ***P > 0.05, when compared with diabetic control. Discussion:
2. Venkatesh S, Thilagavathi J, Shyam sundar D. Anti-diabetic
From the above results we can conclude that ethyl acetate
activity of flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis. Fitoterapia 2008;
fraction of total alcoholic extract of the bark of Cassia fistula
79: 79-81.
Linn. at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight possesses significant antidiabetic activity in rats. It was also found effective in normalizing blood lipids like total cholesterol & total
3. Bhakta T, Banerjee S, Mandal SC, Maity TK, Saha BP & Pal M , Hepatoprotective activity of Cassia fistula leaf extract. Phytomedicine 2001; 8(3): 220-224. 4. Kannampalli P, Chandrashekaran VRM, Kuppannan G,
triglyceride. From these results we may conclude that the
Sivanesan K. Effect of Cassia fistula Linn. leaf extract on
presence of glycoside or flavonoid may be responsible for the
diethylnitrisamine induced hepatic injury in rats. Chemico-
antidiabetic activity of the ethyl acetate fraction and total alcoholic extract.
Biological Interactions 2007; 167:12-18. 5. Orient Longman, Indian Medicinal Plants, A compendium of 500 species, Vol-2 (Orient Longman Ltd., Madras, 1994)11-12.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The authors are thankful to the management KLE society, Belgaum & principal KLES College of pharmacy, Hubli for providing the necessary facility to carry out this study.
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Article History: Date of Submission: 12/01/2010 Date of Acceptance: 17/03/2010 Conflict of Interest: NIL Source of support: NONE
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