Attached
Background: Boiled aqueous extract of flowers (AEF) from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. are used in Sri Lankan traditional
Ayruvedic Medicine to manage diabetes meilitus. AEF has widely been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of
. various ailments due to its therapeutic activity. However, little is known concerning therapeutic activity of-the extract
as well as its underline mechanisms and safety. Diabetes is known to increase low-density cholesterol and decrease
high-density cholesterol thus triggering coronary diseases. Hence, the primary objective of the present study is to
investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of the AEF.
Methods: AEF was prepared and male mice (n = 9 group) were gavaged either with 250,500 and 750 mg/kg of AEF or
distilled water (DW). Subsequently, fasting and random blood glucose concentrations were determined. To investigate
mechanisms of actions of AEF, animals were orally administered with 500 mg/kg or the vehicle (DW) and glucose
tolerance was performed before and after glucose challenge. For further studies, in w'rro alpha-amylase assay and
glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract were performed using 500 mg/kg of the extract. Additionally,
i glycogen content in the liver and skeletal muscles, a complete lipid profile assay, and toxicological and biochemical
parameters were conducted after a chronic study.
Results: Five hundred mg/kg and 750'mg/kg of AEF significantly (p < 0.01) reduced fasting blood glucose levels
. respectively by 49 and 39 % at 4 h post-treatment, while 500 mg/kg of AEF also decreased the random blood glucose
level significantly (p <0.01) by 32 %.at 4 h post-treatment. AEF significantly inhibited glucose absorption by 85 % from
i the intestine and increased diaphragm; uptake of glucose by 54 %. The extract also exhibited inhibition (16.66 % ) of
alpha-amylase enzyme activity. It also decreased the level of total cholesterol (by 44.8 %), triglyceride (by 53 % ) and
increased (by 57 % ) the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Treatment with AEF did not induce any overt signs of
: toxicity or hepatotoxicity.
Conclusion: Results the present study indicated that AEF possess hypoglycemic and hypolipdemic properties.
. Therefore, AEF could be used as an alternative medicine in management of diabetes meilitus.
