Effect of Lawsonia inermis Linn. Extracts on Blood Glucose Level in Normal and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background and Objective:Lawsonia inermis Linn. is one of the common medicinal plants that are being used widely to treat diabetes in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia. Scientific evidence to confirm its efficacy is still lacking. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of L. inermis leaf exts. on glucose level in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Serial extn. of Lawsonia inermis Linn. leaf was conducted to obtain the resp. n-hexane (HE), Et acetate (EAE), ethanol (EE) and distd. water (A1E) exts. Another water ext. (A2E) was obtained using infusion technique. These exts. were administered orally at the dose of 1 g kg-1 b.w. to normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. An acute hypoglycemic, glucose tolerance and antihyperglycemic effects were assessed. Qual. phytochem. screenings were conducted prior to the in vivo tests. Results: The phytochem. screenings revealed the presence of steroid and triterpenoid in HE, alkaloid, tannin, flavonoids, saponin and glycoside in EE and EAE. While in A1E and A2E, tannin, flavonoid, saponin and glycoside were identified. Hypoglycemic test in normal rats showed HE was able to decrease blood glucose level (BGL) significantly (p<0.05). A1E and A2E were able to inhibit the rise of BGL after being challenged with glucose i.p. Furthermore, administration of single dose of exts. showed that only EAE exerted significant antihyperglycemic activity. Conclusion: All the exts. of Lawsonia inermis Linn. leaf, except for EE, have shown certain degree of antidiabetic activity with possible different mechanisms of antidiabetic action. [on SciFinder(R)]