title: Hypoglycaemic and coronary risk index lowering effects of Bauhinia thoningii in alloxan induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disease, one of humanity's greatest adversaries, has in recent times showed an intimidating increase in numerical and pathological strength. This stretched the available medications to the limit thereby necessitating the need for the discovery of new and alternative medications to combat the menace of disease. Diabetic mellitus is one disease condition for which ideal synthetic drugs are yet to be discovered. To this end, pharmaceuticals are looking in the direction of medicinal plants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work aimed at screening Bauhinia thoningii (leaves) for its hypoglycaemic effect. The effect of the extract on lipid profile as a Coronary Risk Index (CRI) was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous crude extract of the plant was administered orally to alloxan induced diabetic rats and fasting blood glucose monitored over a period of 7 days. Blood samples collected from the rats were assayed for full lipid profile and the CRI calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bauhinia thoningii caused 81.37% reduction in blood glucose of the experimental animals over a period of 7 days from an initial 365 mg/dl to 68 mg/dl. The plant extract was also observed to have the capacity to ameliorate diabetic complications like cardiovascular disorders. The extract reduced the Low Density lipoprotein (LDL) and reduced the CRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this study confirmed the hypoglycaemic efficacy of the extract and ability to ameliorate coronary diabetic complications. Further study is required to purify the plant extract to identify the fraction(s) that are responsible for the hypoglycaemic effects observed. This will also help to isolate the active components and elucidate the likely mechanism of action of the plant extract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology & Biochemistry University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. matlar2002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ojezele
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Abatan
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D036481:Bauhinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012306:Risk; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D000496:Alloxan