Abstract

THREE TETRACYCLIC TRITERPENOIDSISOLATED AND IDENTIFIED FROM THE ETHYL ACETATE EXTRACT OF CASSIA FISTULA STEM BARK WITH HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL

Manikkam Rajalakshmi*, Pitchai Daisy

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is a major disease that affects more than 4% of the global population and management of diabetes without side effects is still a challenge. But, the traditional systems of medicine and medicinal compounds overcome this challenge. Hence, the use of plant derived compounds has become one of the major thirst areas of diabetes research. This work is aimed in establishing the hypoglycemic activity of three novel compounds from ethyl acetate extract of Cassia fistula. Methods: The novel compounds were isolated and the structures were determined using NMR, Mass and IR spectrum. Toxicity test were carried out at various doses. After the dose determination, 20mg/kg.b.wt of the three compounds were administered to Streptozotocin(STZ)- induced (60mg/kg.b.wt) diabetic male Wistar rats for 6-weeks. Plasma glucose level, body weight, food and water intake, hemoglobin and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1C)levels were analyzed using standard methods. The light microscopicalanalysis of pancreatic sections was done. Results: The compounds were identified as novel tetracyclic triterpenoids.No significant toxic effects were seen in the compound treated rats. Plasma glucose level was significantly reduced and with weight gain after the treatment with compounds and with normal food and water intake. They significantly decreased the HbA1C and increased the hemoglobin content.The light microscopical sections reveal that the compounds did not cause any regeneration of β-cells in the pancreas. Conclusion: The above results confirm that the three novel compounds possess hypoglycemic potential and could be used as potential candidates to develop drugs to manage diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Cassia fistula, novel tetracyclic triterpenoids, hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin.