Abstract

IMPROVED ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE WITH METHANOL EXTRACT OF MUSA TEXTILIS NEE AND SYNERGISTIC ACTION WITH GLIBENCLAMIDE

Anju Faridi Lopa, Khoshnur Jannat, Abdul Hamid and Mohammed Rahmatullah*

Abstract

Background: In previous studies we have observed that methanol extracts of fruit skins of various types of cultivated banana species (Musa sapientum and Musa seminifera) can improve glucose tolerance in glucose-loaded mice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the glucose tolerance ability of methanol extract of fruit skins of a wild banana species, Musa textilis Nee. Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done to evaluate glucose tolerance. Results: In oral glucose tolerance tests, methanol extract of fruit skins of Musa textilis (MEMT) significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice by 21.4, 29.0, and 36.2%, respectively, at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg each per kg body weight in mice. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, reduced blood glucose levels by 39.3% at a dose of 10 mg per kg. MEMT, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg with 10 mg glibenclamide per kg demonstrated synergistic glucose lowering effect by reducing blood glucose by 41.7 and 44.5%, respectively. Conclusion: MEMT can be used as a blood glucose lowering agent in diabetic patients.

Keywords: Antihyperglycemic, Musa textilis, OGTT, diabetes.