Antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of butea monosperma (LAM) Taub bark

A B ST R A C T Herbal preparation of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. bark had been considered as effective, economical and safe ethnomedicine for various ailments in Indian traditional system of medicine. The present study was aimed to investigate scientifically the antidiabetic potential of B. monosperma bark. Both kinds diabetes; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were induced in the rats by treating with alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg b wt ;ip) and hydrocortisone (5mg/100g b wt; ip) respectively. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were measured at periodic intervals during the test period. The blood samples were collected with care sino-ocular puncture method and serum was isolated by centrifugation to analyze plasma glucose and serum lipid profile. The results of preliminary phytochemical analysis depicts that B monosperma bark has the presence of steroids and tannins and absence of terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids. The moisture content and total ash values of bark was 3.0%and 9.7% respectively. The treatment with bark aqueous extract of B monosperma substantially declined the plasma glucose level in both IDDM and NIDDM animal subjects by 7.2% and 26.6% respectively. This treatment also appreciably (P= 0.05 and P=0.01) lowered the serum lipid profile. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of Butea monosperma reflected hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic potential through glucose and lipid profile lowering activity in experimental animals. It supported the folklore state of antidiabetic potential of the plant.