Effect of butanol fraction from Cassia tora L. seeds on glycemic control and insulin secretion in diabetic rats

Abstract

Cassia tora L. seeds have previously been reported to reduce blood glucose level in human and animals with diabetes. In the present study, the effects of Cassia tora L. seed butanol fraction (CATO) were studied on postprandial glucose control and insulin secretion from the pancreas of the normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by an i.p. injection of Streptozotocin (55 mg/kg BW) into the male Sprague-Dawley rats. The postprandial glucose control was monitored during a 240 min-period using a maltose loading test. In normal rats, rats fed CATO (20 mg/100 g BW/d) showed lower postprandial glucose levels in all the levels from 30 min up to 180 min than those in the control rats without CATO (p<0.05). In diabetic rats, those levels in the CATO group seemed to be lower during the 30~180 min, but only glucose level at 30 min showed significant difference compared to that in the control group. Moreover, CATO delayed the peak time of the glucose rise in both normal and diabetic rats in the glucose curves. On the other hand, when CATO was administered orally to the diabetic rats for 5 days, 12 hr fasting serum glucose level was decreased in the diabetic rats (p<0.05). Degree of a decrease in 12 hr fasting serum insulin levels was significantly less in the diabetic CATO rats as compared to diabetic control rats. On the last day of feeding, β cells of the pancreas were stimulated by 200 mg/dL glucose through a 40 min-pancreas perfusion. Amounts of the insulin secreted from the pancreas during the first phase (11~20 min) and the second phase (21~40 min) in the CATO fed diabetic rats were significantly greater than those in the diabetic control group (p<0.05). These findings indicated that constituents of Cassia tora L. seeds have beneficial effect on postprandial blood glucose control which may be partially mediated by stimulated insulin secretion from the pancreas of the diabetic rats.

The influence of Chakawar (Cassia tora) and Khesari (Lathyrus sativa) seeds on the growth and biochemical performance in the blood of albino rats

“…In Chakwa fed groups, our findings were at par with the views reported by Kadiri et al (1996) when Chakwa seed was fed to rats. However, Sabu et al (2002), Nam and Hyunju (2008), Farswan et al (2009) and Daisy et al (2010) reported that Cassia species seed had reduced the level of blood glucose which was not true in our case. This might be due to species difference and use of diabetes rats for the experiment.…”

THE PROBABLE MEDICINAL USAGE OF <i>CASSIA TORA</i>: AN OVERVIEW

“…The decrease in 12 hr fasting serum insulin level was less in the diabetic CATO rats than diabetic control rats. The findings of this study indicated that components of C. tora L. seeds have favorable effect on postprandial blood glucose control which may be partially mediated by stimulated insulin secretion from the pancreas of the diabetic rats (Nam and Choi, 2008). …”

“…Nam and Choi (2008) studied the effects of C. tora L. seed butanol fraction (CATO) on postprandial glucose control and insulin secretion from the pancreas of the normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. They observed that in normal rats fed with CATO have lower postprandial glucose levels.…”

Phytochemical and Biological Potential of Cassia tora Linn.

“…Amounts of the insulin secreted from the pancreas during the first phase (11 to 20 min) and the second phase (21 to 40 min) in the extract fed diabetic rats were significantly greater than those of the diabetic control group (P<0.05). These findings indicated that constituents of C. tora seeds possess beneficial effect on postprandial blood glucose control which might be partially mediated by stimulated insulin secretion from the pancreas of the diabetic rats [79].…”