Abstract

ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC, ANALGESIC ACTIVITY, AND ACUTE TOXICITY STUDIES WITH METHANOL EXTRACT OF FOENICULUM VULGARE SEEDS

Mirza Nipa Monalisa and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Foeniculum vulgare, also known as sweet fennel is an aromatic plant cultivated in Bangladesh for culinary and medicinal uses. It was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the seeds 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 seeds 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 dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels by 25.0, 42.4, 47.6, and 52.1%, 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 52.4%. In analgesic activity tests, the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight significantly reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 29.6, 37.0, 40.7, and 44.4%, respectively. A standard pain relieving (analgesic) drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings by 33.3 and 51.9%, respectively, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. Conclusion. The seeds can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Foeniculum vulgare, analgesic, Apiaceae.