Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF LEAVES OF AEGICERAS CORNICULATUM (L.) BLANCO (BLACK MANGROVE) IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

P. G. Geegi* and N. Manoharan

ABSTRACT

The extraction of Mangrove plant’s secondary metabolites are essential to isolate biologically active compounds, meant to comprehend their contribution on the treatment of diabetes. This study was planned to discover the preliminary phytochemical and physicochemical analysis of leaves of Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco and further investigation of its hypoglycemic effect on diabetic rats. A. corniculatum leaves were extracted using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water. For each extract a phytochemical screening was performed. The tests were conducted in the qualitative determination of the various metabolites was done using analytical standards methods. The aqueous extracts, containing major secondary metabolites was chosen to study the antidiabetic effects. After a 60-day treatment with the aqueous extract, the animals were sacrificed and blood was obtained for biochemical studies. The main effect observed was a decrease in serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides and transaminases in diabetic rats after the administration of A. corniculatum aqueous extract. These results confirm the potential beneficial action of A. corniculatum to treat the symptoms of diabetic patients.

Keywords: Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco, Black Mangrove, Khalsi, Diabetes and Streptozotocin.