title: Phytochemical screening, physicochemical properties, acute toxicity testing and screening of hypoglycaemic activity of extracts of Eremurus himalaicus baker in normoglycaemic Wistar strain albino rats.
abstract: In the present study EtOAc, MeOH, and aqueous extracts of Eremurus himalaicus were evaluated for hypoglycaemic effect in normal rats using both oral glucose tolerance test and 14-day oral administration study. Phytochemical and physicochemical screening was also done. In oral glucose tolerance test the aqueous and MeOH extracts of Eremurus himalaicus at a dose level of 500 mg/kg body weight prior to glucose load resulted in a significant fall in blood glucose level within 150 min. of glucose administration. The aqueous extract at a dose level of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight also showed good hypoglycaemic response (P < 0.001); this was followed by MeOH extract at a dose level of 500 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.05), while MeOH extract at dose level of 250 mg/kg body weight and ethyl acetate extract at dose level of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight exhibited insignificant effect. Phytochemical screening of extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and flavonoids. The results indicate that aqueous extract possess significant hypoglycaemic activity in normoglycaemic rats which may be attributed to the above-mentioned chemical constituents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Ahlam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: RRIUM, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zargar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Adil F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Akhtar H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: RRIUM, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India.
authors.forename: Bashir A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ganai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts