Abstract

HOW GOOD IS RED CABBAGE EXTRACT FOR LOWERING HIGH BLOOD GLUCOSE AND ALLEVIATING PAIN? A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF BRASSICA OLERACEA L. VAR. CAPITATA F. RUBRA

Md. Abu Daud, Sanjana Rahman, Shahnaz Rahman, Ishtiaq Ahmad,
Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra (red cabbage) is cultivated in Bangladesh for its edible leaves, which are taken raw in salad or in the cooked form. It was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the leaves of the plant. Methods. Antihyperglycemic activity was determined through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Analgesic 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 red cabbage leaves led to significant 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 reduced blood glucose levels by 27.5, 32.9, 39.6, and 56.0%, 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 51.0%. In analgesic activity tests, the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight dose-dependently reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 7.4, 22.2, 37.0, and 55.6%, respectively. A standard pain relieving (analgesic) drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings by 37.0 and 55.6%, respectively, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. Conclusion. Red cabbage leaves can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra, analgesic, Brassicaceae, red cabbage.