Glucose lowering potential of hydromethanolic extract of Rauwolfia

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phytochemistry, acute toxicity and glucose lowering potential of hydromethanolic roots extract (HMREt) of Rauwolfia serpentina. The qualitative analysis of HMREt showed the presence of many important phyto-constituents except anthraquinones, carbohydrates and saponins whereas quantitatively it found rich in total phenols. In acute toxicity study, orally administrated HMREt from 5-250 mg/ kg was observed safe and non-sedative while its doses from 500-2500 mg/kg were found sedative and induced mortalities (17-100%) within 4 hours of administration. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of same extract was calculated as 1412.54 mg / kg (log LD₅₀ = 3.15 mg/ kg) from log doses verses probit graph. The HMREt in doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg induced significant percent decrease in blood glucose level at 30, 60 and 120 minutes in normo-hyperglycemic test mice as compared to control and negative control groups (p<0.05). The results concluded that HMREt has glucose lowering potential either by developing glucose tolerance or by pancreatic action in normo-hyperglycemic mice.