Abstract

ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SPILANTHES CALVA AERIAL PARTS

Ummey Jannatus Nahar, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background: Spilanthes calva is an annual herb found in the moist plain and low hilly regions of Bangladesh. Since not much is known about the medicinal properties of this plant, it was of interest to determine the antihyperglycemic potential of its aerial parts. Methods: Antihyperglycemic activity was determined through oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in mice. Results: Administration of methanol extract of aerial parts of the plant to glucose-loaded mice at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg body weight led to reductions in blood glucose levels, respectively, by 17.8, 26.9, 32.3, and 38.0%. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg reduced blood glucose level by 47.8%. Conclusion: Methanol extract of aerial parts of the plant, although not so potent as glibenclamide in lowering high blood glucose levels still possess significant potential to be used as an antihyperglycemic agent and act as a substitute for gliibenclamide.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Spilanthes calva, Asteraceae, OGTT.