Hypoglycemic activity of Buchholzia coriacea (Capparaceae) seeds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and mice.

The present study evaluates the possible hypoglycemic activity and ameliorative effects of oral administration of ethanol extracts (EEBC) and butanol fraction (BFBC) of Buchholzia coriacea seeds, a plant in use traditionally for treating diabetes, hypertension, rheumatism, cold, cough and catarrh, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and rats. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were evaluated before and after extracts administration. EEBC and BFBC significantly decreased (P<0.05) FBG in hyperglycemic mice and normoglycemic rats within 4 and 12 h, respectively after extract administration. The administration of EEBC, BFBC and glibenclamide (a standard antidiabetic drug) for 10 days significantly lowered (P<0.05) FBG level in STZ-induced diabetic rats by 55%, 64% and 56%, respectively. EEBC and BFBC significantly (P<0.05) decreased hepatic injury induced by STZ as evident in the decreased activity of serum alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase compared to in the STZ-only treated group. Similarly, both extracts significantly decreased (P<0.05) the elevated levels of serum creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triglyceride and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) products in diabetic rats. Serum superoxide dismutase activity was significantly enhanced (P<0.05) by treatments with EEBC, BFBC and glibenclamide. Overall, the results suggest that B. coriacea seeds contain a potent hypoglycemic and antioxidant agent suggested to be a flavone glycoside concentrated in BFBC which may find clinical application in amelioration of diabetes-induced secondary complications.