Abstract

ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT) WITH A POLYHERBAL FORMULATION OF NIGELLA SATIVA AND BRASSICA ALBA SEEDS

Ziyan Arefin, Md. Najmul Hossain and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

Abstract

Background. Nigella sativa and Brassica alba are two spice plants cultivated in Bangladesh, albeit on a small scale. A number of spice plants of Bangladesh are known for their antihyperglycemic properties. It was therefore of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic potential of a polyherbal formulation containing seeds of both plants. Methods. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done to evaluate antihyperglycemic potential. Results. In oral glucose tolerance tests, methanol extract of seeds of Nigella sativa (MENS), administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight reduced blood glucose by 32.2%. Methanol extract of seeds of Brassica alba (MEBA), administered at the same dose reduced blood glucose by 28.1%. Administration of a combination of MENS and MEBA (1:1, w/w), tentatively termed MENSBA, significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice by 29.5, 34.2 and 40.8%, respectively, at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg each per kg body weight in mice. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, reduced blood glucose levels by 41.4% at a dose of 10 mg per kg. Conclusion. MENSBA can potentially be an excellent source for blood glucose lowering in diabetic patients in the absence of antihyperglycemic drugs.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Nigella sativa, OGTT, Brassica alba.