Abstract

ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT) WITH A COMBINATION OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA STEMS AND EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES AERIAL PARTS

Rifakat Ahmed, Mohd. Najib Mostafa and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: In previous experimental studies, it was observed that various parts of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott possess antihyperglycemic potential. The objective of the present study was to determine the antihyperglycemic effect of combined methanol extracts of Colocasia esculenta stems and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms aerial parts (known for antioxidant properties) in glucose-challenged mice. Methods: Antihyperglycemic activity was determined through oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in mice. Results: Individual administration of methanol extract of Colocasia esculenta stems (MECE) and Eichhornia crassipes aerial parts (MEEC) at a dose of 400 mg each per kg body weight to glucose-loaded mice reduced blood glucose levels by 41.1 and 21.5%, respectively, compared to control (untreated) mice. When given in combination, the combined extracts reduced blood glucose level by 42.4% in glucose-challenged mice. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 46.1%. Conclusion: The combination of MECE and MEEC was not more effective than MECE alone despite reported antioxidative potential of MEEC.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Colocasia esculenta, Eichhornia crassipes, glibenclamide, OGTT.