Abstract

IMPROVED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE WITH A COMBINATION OF GLIBENCLAMIDE AND CABBAGE LEAVES

Suraiya Sharmin, M. Nurullah and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (cabbage) is a Brassicaceae family plant cultivated in Bangladesh for its edible leaves, which have been previously reported to have blood glucose lowering effects. As such, it was of interest to examine whether an extract of the leaves can improve oral glucose tolerance when administered concomitantly with a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide. Methods. Oral glucose tolerance was determined through oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in mice. Results. Administration of methanol extract of cabbage leaves (MEBO) at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg to glucose-loaded mice reduced blood glucose levels by 37.2 and 45.7%, respectively. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 46.1%. MEBO, when administered at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg along with glibenclamide at 10 mg per kg, respectively reduced blood glucose levels by 48.9, 50.2 and 53.0%. Conclusion. Methanolic extract of leaves of cabbage (MEBO) can improve glucose tolerance, as well as enhance the effect of antihyperglycemic drugs like glibenclamide, and so can be of value to people with impaired glucose metabolism leading to elevated blood glucose levels.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, glibenclamide, OGTT, cabbage.