Abstract

ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANALGESIC POTENTIAL OF DELONIX REGIA FRUITS

Md. Azizur Rahman, Md. Mofidul Islam, Emad Hossain, Nazmul Karim, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: Delonix regia is commonly grown in Bangladesh as an ornamental plant. We have previously observed antihyperglycemic activity in leaf extracts of the plant. It was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic and analgesic properties of the fruits. 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 fruits 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, significantly and 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 and dose-dependently reduced the number of abdominal constrictions by 22.2, 29.6, 33.3, and 51.9%, respectively. A standard pain relieving (analgesic) drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings by 33.3 and 48.1%, respectively, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. Conclusion: The fruits of the plant can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose and for alleviating pain.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Delonix regia, analgesic, Fabaceae.