Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of ‘Khoyer’ prepared from boiling the wood of <i>Acacia catechu</i> in water

Abstract

Abstract'Khoyer' is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resultant brew. The resultant hard material is powdered and chewed with betel leaves and lime with or without tobacco by a large number of the people of Bangladesh as an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation. There are folk medicinal claims that khoyer helps in the relief of pain and is also useful to diabetic patients to maintain normal sugar levels. Thus far no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive effects of khoyer. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of khoyer using glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum anti-hyperglycemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was less than that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhing induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was greater than that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients, as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain.

Antioxidant, Anti‐inflammatory, and Chemoprotective Properties of Acacia catechu Heartwood Extracts

“…In the antinociceptive efficacy study, an approximately 70% reduction in writhing, induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid, was observed with a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract (Rahmatullah et al , ). In a parallel experiment, the standard antinociceptive drug aspirin at 400 mg/kg body weight reduced the number of writhing by 60.5%.…”

“…Acacia catechu heartwood extracts have also been used traditionally in the preparation of betel quid (paan masala), which consists of Piper betle leaves, A. catechu paste, chopped Areca nut, lime, and various spices with or without tobacco (Thomas and Kearsley, 1993;Rahmatullah et al, 2013;Waris and Nagi, 2014). Betel chewing is used to produce euphoria, a sense of well-being, heightened sense of alertness, and psychostimulation (Chu, 2001).…”

Apoptotic-Induced Effects of Acacia Catechu Willd. Extract in Human Colon Cancer Cells

“…extracts have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases. It possesses hepatoprotective, antipyretic, antidiarrheal, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities [7][8][9][10]. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that Acacia catechu Willd.…”

Preliminary Phytochemical analysis and In vitro Antioxidant, FTIR Spectroscopy, Anti-diabetic activity of Acacia catechu ethanolic seed extract

“…24 Acacia catechu seed extract when tested In vivo in normal albino rats in combination of other extracts exhibited significant Anti-diabetic activity. 25 Synthetic α-glucosidase inhibitors are used widely but may cause severe gastro intestinal disturbances, 26 hence the use of natural products have raised to overcome the side effects caused by synthetic drugs.…”