Abstract

ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT) WITH WHOLE PLANTS OF ALOCASIA FORNICATA ROXB. (ARACEAE)

S. M. Shatil Shahriar, Jannatul Ferdoes Shoma and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

Abstract

Background: Alocasia fornicata is an Araceae family plant of which not much is known about its pharmacological properties. As such, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic potential of methanolic extract of whole plant of Alocasia fornicata. Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done to evaluate antihyperglycemic potential. Results: In oral glucose tolerance tests, methanol extract of whole plants of Alocasia fornicata (MEAF) significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice by 13.0, 22.1, 31.2, and 37.2%, respectively, at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight in mice. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, reduced blood glucose levels by 37.9% at a dose of 10 mg per kg. Conclusion: Alocasia fornicata can potentially be an excellent source for blood glucose lowering lead compounds or drugs.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Alocasia fornicata, OGTT, Araceae.