Abstract

SYNERGISTIC ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AERIAL PARTS OF SENNA OBTUSIFOLIA AND GLIBENCLAMIDE

Sadia Israt Khanom, M. M. Maidul Islam and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: Senna obtusifolia is a Fabaceae family plant found in Bangladesh and which is used in traditional medicines of the country. Antidiabetic effect has been reported for seeds of the plant. It was therefore of interest to evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of aerial parts of this plant and synergistic effect, if any, with an antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide. Methods: Antihyperglycemic activity was determined through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in mice. Results: Administration of methanol extract of Senna obtusifolia aerial parts (MESO) at a dose of 400 mg per kg to glucose-loaded mice reduced blood glucose level by 22.3%. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 38.3%. MESO, when administered at doses of 100, 200 and 400mg per kg along with glibenclamide at 10 mg per kg, respectively reduced blood glucose levels by 39.0, 42.3, and 44.0%. Conclusion: Methanolic extract of aerial parts of Senna obtusifolia (MESO) can be a potential source of antihyperglycemic compound(s) and also can act synergistically with antihyperglycemic drugs like glibenclamide.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Senna obtusifolia, glibenclamide, OGTT, mice.