Evaluation of the Pharmacological Effect of Methanolic Extract of Heritiera fomes on Hyperglycemia in Laboratory Animals

Abstract

Natural remedies from medicinal plants are considered to be effective and safe alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus. Our aim was to explore the activity of the methanolic extract of Heritiera fomes on hyperglycemia in Long Evans rat and anti-diarrhoeal or laxative effect of the methanolic extract of Heritiera fomes in swiss albino mice model with a view to explore its use for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in humans. The present studies were focused on the probable anti-hyperglycemic activity and anti-diarrheal or laxative activity of the plant Heritiera fomes. The plant extract was subjected to anti-hyperglycemic study through assessing disaccharidase activity test, and carbohydrate absorption test which was performed to assess the amount of sucrose remaining at six different positions in the GIT. It seems to act by significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001) decreasing the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates in the stomach, brush border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells and flatten the prosprandial glucose rise without giving extra load on beta cells to secret insulin. The Gut motility activity was assessed by measuring the movement of BaSO4 milk through the small intestine of swiss albino mice model. Bisacodyl was used as standard drug for GI motility test because of its potent action as anti-diarrheal drug, and acarbose was used as standard drug for disaccharidase activity test because of its potent inhibitory effect on disaccharidase which was recently proved by different research. In conclusion, we can say that our present findings suggest that methanolic extracts of Heritiera fomes root and bark contain anti-hyperglycemic principles and it is expected that this plant can be put to further investigation for the development of potent anti-diabetic drugs.