Abstract

BOILED BROCCOLI – A PANACEA FOR LOWERING BLOOD GLUCOSE AND ALLEVIATING PAIN?

Symun Naher, Nazmul Karim, Md. Mofidul Islam, Emad Hossain, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli) is cultivated in Bangladesh for its edible sprout, which is consumed in the boiled or fried form. Broccoli is known to be rich in several phytochemicals, which may prove useful in treatment for treatment of cancer, diabetes and inflammatory diseases. It was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the boiled 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 boiled 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 21.8, 37.6, 39.6, and 44.0%, 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 51.0%. 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 22.2, 33.3, 44.4, 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: Boiled broccoli sprouts can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose and for alleviating pain.

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