Abstract

PRELIMINARY ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY STUDIES WITH ANGIOPTERIS EVECTA LEAVES IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Samira Sultana, Joyanto Kumar Nandi, Shahnaz Rahman, Rownak Jahan, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Angiopteris evecta, also known as the Giant Fern is found in Lawachara Forest Reserve of Bangladesh. Not much is known about this species. Since we are screening the plants of Bangladesh for their various pharmacological properties, it was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the leaves. Methods. Antihyperglycemic activity was determined through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Antinociceptive activity was determined by observed decreases in abdominal constrictions (writhings) in intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced pain model in mice. Results. Administration of methanol extract of whole plant led to dose-dependent reductions in blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, the extract dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels by 21.3, 23.7, 32.0, and 53.6%, 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 61.2%. In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 25.9, 44.4, 55.6, and 59.3%, respectively. A standard pain relieving (antinociceptive) drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings by 48.1 and 63.0%, respectively, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. Conclusion. Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activities have not previously been reported for Angiopteris evecta leaves. The leaves can be of use in lowering blood sugar and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Angiopteris evecta, antinociceptive, Marratiaceae.