Abstract

A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANALGESIC PROPERTIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF BRASSICA OLERACEA L. VAR. ITALICA SPROUTS

Md. Yousuf Hasan, Rahat Al- Mahamud, Shahnaz Rahman, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli) is cultivated in Bangladesh for its edible sprout, which is known to be rich in several bio-active components and has therapeutic potential for treatment of cancer, diabetes and inflammatory diseases. It was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the sprouts 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 broccoli sprouts led to 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 12.9, 29.6, 35.9, and 40.4%, 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 45.6%. In analgesic activity tests, the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight significantly and dose-dependently reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 14.8, 29.6, 37.0, and 51.9%, 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. Broccoli sprouts can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Brassica oleracea, analgesic, Brassicaceae, broccoli