Abstract

EVALUATION AS TO WHETHER ALOCASIA FORNICATA CAN AUGMENT BLOOD GLUCOSE LOWERING EFFECTS OF GLIBENCLAMIDE

Amena Khatun and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: Alocasia fornicata whole plant methanolic extract has been reported previously to improve oral glucose tolerance that is lower blood glucose levels in glucose-challenged mice. As such, it was of interest to examine whether the methanolic extract of whole plant can further improve oral glucose tolerance when administered concomitantly with a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide. Methods: Oral glucose tolerance was determined through oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in mice. Results: Administration of methanol extract of whole plant (MEAF) at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight to glucose-loaded mice reduced blood glucose level by 22.7%. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 41.8%. MEAF, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg along with glibenclamide at 10 mg per kg, respectively reduced blood glucose levels by 42.1 and 43.1%. Conclusion: MEAF can augment the effect of glibenclamide but at a low extent.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Alocasia fornicata, glibenclamide, OGTT.