Abstract

ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTINOCICEPTIVE ACTIVITY TESTS WITH BETA VULGARIS L. SSP. VULGARIS ROOTS: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Indrani Mandal, Humayra Jannat, Shahnaz Rahman, Rownak Jahan, Tania Khan,Sadia Moin Mou, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

Abstract

Background: Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris is cultivated throughout Bangladesh for its edible leaves and roots. Poor rural people consume the leaves, while the more costly roots are consumed by the more affluent urban population. The objective of this study was to scientifically analyze the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive properties of methanol extract of roots (beet root) of the plant. Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was used to determine antihyperglycemic activity. Antinociceptive activity was determined by observed decreases in abdominal writhings in intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced pain model in mice. Results: Administration of methanol extract of roots led to dose-dependent and significant reductions in blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, the extract reduced blood glucose levels by 17.5, 33.2, 40.2, and 51.7%, respectively compared to control animals. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 55.2%. In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract at the above four doses reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 35.5, 41.9, 45.2, and 48.4%, respectively. A standard pain relieving (antinociceptive) drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings by 48.4 and 61.3%, respectively, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report on oral glucose tolerance and antinociceptive activity evaluation of roots of the plant. Since the plant is widely available in Bangladesh, the roots can be a source for lowering blood sugar in diabetic patients and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Beta vulgaris, OGTT, antinociceptive, Chenopodiaceae