title: Acute effect of Bauhinia forficata on serum glucose levels in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: Experimental diabetes was used to study the acute effect of the n-butanol fraction of Bauhinia forficata Link (Leguminosae) (BF) leaves on the serum glucose levels of rats. Body weight was measured on the day of diabetes induction and on the day of the experiment. Levels of glucose were determined at different doses and times following treatment with BF or with vehicle in normal, diabetic and hyperglycemic normal rats. Oral administration of n-BuOH fraction led to a significant blood glucose-lowering effect in normal and diabetic rats. However, in glucose-fed hyperglycemic normal rats, the maximum dose of this fraction failed to decrease blood glucose levels. The hypoglycemic effect was observed at doses of 500 and 600 mg/kg after 1 and 2 h treatment respectively, in normal rats. The maximum effect of BF was detected at 1 h with 800 mg/kg in diabetic animals and this profile was maintained for the next 3 h. Treatment of normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats with BF decreased glucose levels, while this fraction was devoid of hypoglycemic effect in glucose-fed hyperglycemic normal rats.
authors.affiliation: UFSC Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Campus Universitário, Bairro Trindade, Cx Postal 5069, CEP-88040-970, SC, Florianópolis, Brazil. mena@mboxl.ufsc.br
authors.forename: Fátima Regina Mena Barreto
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szpoganicz
authors.forename: Moacir Geraldo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pizzolatti
authors.forename: Maria Alice Vieira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Willrich
authors.forename: Eliandra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D036481:Bauhinia; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000496:Alloxan