Ethnopharmacological relevance: The present experiment was conducted to search out the effect of hydro-methanolic extract of seed of Holarrhena antidysenterica on intestinal α-glucosidase activity in dose dependent manner and on the management of postprandial hyperglycemia in starch loaded rats.
Materials and methods: Activity of intestinal α-glucosidase was measured by in vitro method. Fasting blood glucose level was determined by single touch glucometer. Total phenol and flavonoids of seed extract of Holarrhena antidysenterica were estimated using gallic acid and quercetin standard curves, respectively.
Results: The degree of elevation in blood glucose level after starch administration was significantly (p<0.05) less by the extract in respect to the control. The said extract also inhibited α-glucosidase activity having an IC(50) of 0.52mg/ml. Phytochemical study revealed that the extract is rich in phenolic compounds (60.23mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of extract) and flavonoids (360.23mg of quercetin equivalent/g of the extract).
Conclusion: The extract exerts its antihyperglycemic effect by retarding the carbohydrate absorption from intestine through the inhibition in α-glucosidase activity and therefore resists postprandial hyperglycemia.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.