Abstract

LOWERING OF BLOOD GLUCOSE WITH A POLYHERBAL FORMULATION OF NIGELLA SATIVA, SYZYGIUM CUMINI AND TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM SEEDS

Samsun Nahar and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Nigella sativa and Trigonella foenum-graecum are commonly cultivated spices in Bangladesh grown for their seeds, which are used for culinary purposes, while Syzygium cumini is a commonly cultivated fruit tree grown for its edible fruits, as well as seeds, which are used for medicinal purposes. Since the seeds of all three plants are considered to have antihyperglycemic properties, it was therefore of interest to evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of a polyherbal formulation containing seeds from all three plants. Methods. Antihyperglycemic activity was determined through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in mice. Results. Administration of methanol extract of Syzygium cumini (MESC) at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight reduced blood glucose in glucose-loaded mice by 32.4% in comparison to control mice. At the same dose, extract of Nigella sativa (MENS) reduced blood glucose in mice by 34.5% and extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (METF) reduced blood glucose by 31.7%. Administration of an extract (MENST) obtained from seeds of all three plants in combination (equal amounts of each seed, w/w) at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg reduced blood glucose levels, respectively, by 30.7, 36.2 and 45.2%. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 45.5%. Conclusion. The polyherbal formulation was effective in reducing blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice, which at the highest dose tested of 400 mg per kg was equivalent to that of glibenclamide.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Nigella sativa, Syzygium cumini, Trigonella foenum-graecum, OGTT.