Abstract

ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC AND HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF TECOMA STANS IN RATS

Shravan Kumar Dholi*, K. Thirupath and P. Kranthi Raju

Abstract

Tecoma stans has been used medicinally throughout history by many different cultures. Many compounds have been found in the exudates of the Tecoma stans plant that have been used medically by humans and used as a defense mechanism by the plant. We have examined the pharma-cological anti-hyperlipidemic and hypoglycemic effectiveness of Tecoma stans in the obese fatty diabetic rat model. After treatment for 4 days Tecoma stans 250 mg/kg reduced triglyceride (34%), total cholesterol, (14%) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (34%). These effects were dose-dependent and maintained for at least 5 weeks. Chronic treatment for 3-5 weeks also reduced post-prandial hypertriglyceridemia induced by olive oil 10 mg/kg in the fatty rats. A novel regulation by Tecoma stans of glucose levels was also observed in the fatty rat model. In a glucose tolerance test in obese and lean rats pretreatment with Tecoma stans 250 mg/kg demonstrated glucose levels were significantly less 2 hours post challenge (21%) in the Tecoma stans obese rats compared to the control group. Tecoma stans did not significantly reduce glucose levels at 120 min in the lean strain, in contrast to the 21% decrease seen in the obese rat. In vitro, Tecoma stans inhibited α-glucosidase activity (50% inhibition at 42.9), which compared to acarbose (50% at 53.8 μg/mL). The improvement in glucose tolerance at 120 min by Tecoma stans in obese fatty rats but not lean rats suggests that it may improve insulin receptor sensitivity and together with the significant reduction of hyper-triglyceridemia, cholesterol and low density liporprotein cholesterol suggests that Tecoma stans should be examined further by oral hypoglycemic / anti-hyperlipidemic therapy.

Keywords: Tecoma stans, anti-hyperlipidemic and hypoglycemic activity.