Abstract

HYPERGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS SEED METHANOL EXTRACT

Md. Abdul Mannan, Khoshnur Jannat and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

Abstract

Background: The leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus have previously been shown to give hypoglycemic activity in alloxan diabetic rats. Since seeds of the plant are consumed in Bangladesh, it was of interest to evaluate the glucose tolerance effect of methanol extract of seeds (MEAH). Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done to evaluate glucose tolerance. Results: In oral glucose tolerance tests, MEAH at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight in mice, respectively, caused 0, 3.6, 8.6 and 11.8% increases in blood glucose levels compared to control animals in glucose-loaded mice. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, reduced blood glucose levels by 40.9% at a dose of 10 mg per kg. Thus, the seeds had the opposite effect; it caused a hyperglycemic effect in contrast to previously reported antihyperglycemic effect of leaves. Conclusion: Seeds should be consumed by diabetic patients with caution.

Keywords: Hyperglycemic, Artocarpus heterophyllus, OGTT, diabetes.