Abstract

ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE AND ANALGESIC STUDIES WITH METHANOL EXTRACT OF BRASSICA ALBA SEEDS

Shupti Rani Shaha and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Brassica alba, also known as white mustard is an annual 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 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, the extract dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels by 20.1, 32.4, and 39.5%, 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 45.3%. In analgesic activity tests, the extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight significantly reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 29.6, 33.3, 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, Brassica alba, analgesic, Brassicaceae.