Abstract

AN INITIAL REPORT ON THE ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTINOCICEPTIVE POTENTIAL OF LABLAB PURPUREUS BEANS

Mousumi Ahmed, Ummay Kawchur Trisha, Shupti Rani Shaha, Amit Kumar Dey, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Lablab purpureus is an important bean crop of Bangladesh for its edible fruits and seeds. The objective of this study was to scientifically analyze the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive properties of methanol extract of beans (fruits containing seeds) of the plant. Methods. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was used to determine antihyperglycemic activity. Antinociceptive activity was determined by observed decreases in abdominal constrictions in intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced pain model in mice. Results. Administration of methanol extract of beans 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 16.4, 39.1, 40.1, and 54.8%, 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 53.8%. In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract at the above four doses reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 32.3, 45.2, 54.8, and 58.1, 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 fruits of the plant. Since the plant is widely cultivated in Bangladesh, the fruits can be used as a source for lowering blood sugar in diabetic patients and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Lablab purpureus, OGTT, antinociceptive, Fabaceae.