Evaluation of toxicity after one-months treatment with Bauhinia forficata decoction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious experiments have shown that a decoction of Bauhinia forficata leaves reduces the changes in carbohydrate and protein metabolism that occur in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. In the present investigation, the serum activities of enzymes known to be reliable toxicity markers were monitored in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats to discover whether the use of B. forficata decoction has toxic effects on liver, muscle or pancreas tissue or on renal microcirculation.MethodsAn experimental group of normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats received an aqueous decoction of fresh B. forficata leaves (150 g/L) by mouth for 33 days while a control group of normal and diabetic rats received water for the same length of time. The serum activity of the toxicity markers lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, amylase, angiotensin-converting enzyme and bilirubin were assayed before receiving B. forficata decoction and on day 19 and 33 of treatment.ResultsThe toxicity markers in normal and diabetic rats were not altered by the diabetes itself nor by treatment with decoction. Whether or not they received B. forficata decoction the normal rats showed a significant increase in serum amylase activity during the experimental period while there was a tendency for the diabetic rats, both treated and untreated with decoction, to have lower serum amylase activities than the normal rats.ConclusionsAdministration of an aqueous decoction of B. forficata is a potential treatment for diabetes and does not produce toxic effects measurable with the enzyme markers used in our study.

Use of unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) in the management of diabetes and hepatic dysfunction in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

“…The decreased serum amylase activities of the diabetic control rats as observed in this study is attributed to the inhibition of STZ on Ca and Mg homeostasis and amylase gene expression [30] while the increased amylase activities of the nondiabetic rats may be related to fl uctuations in the rates of amylase synthesis and its secretion by secretory glands [31,32].…”

Effect of Bauhinia holophylla treatment in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Contradictorily, several authors demonstrated hypoglycemic effect of Bauhinia species extract or fraction. In addition, some species even has showed insulin mimetic properties and hypoglycemic action, for example B. variegata (Silva et al 2002, Pepato et al 2004, Lino et al 2004, Frankish et al 2010. Rozza et al (2015) verified that Bauhinia holophylla hydroalcoholic extract (150 mg/Kg) enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities and the reduced glutathione (GSH) level, suggesting an antioxidant activity from B. holophylla.…”

“…Some attempts were made to attribute the antidiabetic effects of the leaf extracts to the kaempferitrin, the major flavonoid derivative (Pinheiro et al 2006). Several studies showed the hypoglycemic effect of Bauhinia forficata (Silva et al 2002, Pepato et al 2004, Lino et al 2004, Frankish et al 2010, then other species of the same genus may have similar effect by the phylogenetic and chemistry proximity. Chemotaxonomy in conjunction with phylogenetic analysis may provide novel insights into species delimitation and chemical ecology (Kim et al 2016).…”

Análise morfoanatômica comparativa da folha de Bauhinia forficata Link e B. variegata Linn. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae)

“…Souza et al (2004) demonstram o efeito hipoglicêmico e potencial antioxidante do flavonóide Kaempferitrina em B. forficata, sendo confirmado o potencial contra diabetes por Pepato et al (2004) e por Menezes et al (2007), através de estudos com o decocto aquoso e com extrato aquoso, respectivamente. As folhas dessa espécie são consideradas, além de antidiabéticas, diuréticas (Silva & Cechinel Filho 2002) e hipocolesterolemiantes (Lorenzi & Matos 2002).…”