Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY STUDIES WITH METHANOL EXTRACT OF TREVESIA PALMATA LEAVES

K.M. Hasanur Rahman, Joyanto Kumar Nandi, Samira Sultana, Shahnaz Rahman, Shahadat Hossan, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Trevesia palmata, also known as the Snowflake Aralia is found in Lawachara Forest Reserve of Bangladesh. It was of interest to phytochemically screen and determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the leaves. 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. Phytochemical screening was done through standard methods. Results. Administration of methanol extract of leaves led to dose-dependent reductions in blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice. At doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, the extract dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels by 17.9, 28.1, and 47.4%, 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 47.4%. In analgesic activity tests, the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 33.3, 40.7, 48.1, and 55.6%, respectively. A standard pain relieving (analgesic) 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 Trevesia palmata leaves. The leaves can be beneficial in lowering blood sugar and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Trevesia palmata, analgesic, Araliaceae