Anti-Diabetic Effects of an Ethanol Extract of Cassia Abbreviata Stem Bark on Diabetic Rats and Possible Mechanism of Its Action

Abstract

Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of an ethanol extract of Cassia abbreviata (ECA) bark and the possible mechanisms of its action in diabetic albino rats.Methods:ECA was prepared by soaking the powdered plant material in 70% ethanol. It was filtered and made solvent-free by evaporation on a rotary evaporator. Type 2 diabetes was induced in albino rats by injecting 35 mg/kg body weight (bw) of streptozotocin after having fed the rats a high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Diabetic rats were divided into ECA-150, ECA-300 and Metformin (MET)-180 groups, where the numbers are the doses in mg.kg.bw administered to the groups. Normal (NC) and diabetic (DC) controls were given distilled water. The animals had their fasting blood glucose levels and body weights determined every 7 days for 21 days. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were carried out in all animals at the beginning and the end of the experiment. Liver and kidney samples were harvested for glucose 6 phosphatase (G6Pase) and hexokinase activity analyses. Small intestines and diaphragms from normal rats were used for α-glucosidase and glucose uptake studies against the extract.Results:Two doses, 150 and 300 mg/kg bw, significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic rats and helped them maintain normal body weights. The glucose level in DC rats significantly increased while their body weights decreased. The 150 mg/kg bw dose significantly increased hexokinase and decreased G6Pase activities in the liver and the kidneys. ECA inhibited α-glucosidase activity and promoted glucose uptake in the rats’ hemi-diaphragms.Conclusion:This study revealed that ECA normalized blood glucose levels and body weights in type 2 diabetic rats. The normalization of the glucose levels may possibly be due to inhibition of α-glucosidase, decreased G6Pase activity, increased hexokinase activity and improved glucose uptake by muscle tissues.

Cassia Abbreviata Enhances Glucose Uptake and Glucose Transporter 4 Translocation in C2C12 Mouse Skeletal Muscle Cells

“…Similar glucose absorption patterns were demonstrated by a study conducted by Seabi et al (2016) on the extracts of C. abbreviata bark, which revealed a dose-dependent glucose uptake by C2C12 cells, with increase by up to 23% and 31% of glucose absorption at 50 mg/ ml and 100 mg/ml, respectively after 3 hour incubation. 14 Furthermore, a recent study by Bati et al (2017) confirmed the anti-diabetic effects of C. abbreviata ethanolic bark extract on diabetic rats. 35 Moreover, Shalaby et al (2014) indicated that the administration of cinnamomum cassia extract in alloxan induced obese diabetic Sprague Dawley rats induced a significant reduction in blood glucose level.…”

Allisartan isoproxil attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation through the SIRT1/Nrf2/NF‑κB signalling pathway in diabetic cardiomyopathy rats

“…The other 3 groups were fed an HFD to induce diabetes. After 4 weeks of feeding, all the animals were fasted for 12 h, and then the rats in the diabetes group were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (35 mg/kg body weight), while the rats in the control group were injected with the same volume of citrate buffer (34)(35)(36). The blood glucose levels were measured 72 h after STZ injection.…”

Antidiabetic Activity of 40 Plants of the Senegalese Flora, an Important Therapeutic Diversity for Populations

“…Cassia abbreviata, is a plant belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family and is widely distributed across Africa [52]. The roots, stem bark and fruit pulp of C. abbreviata extracts are traditionally used for treatment of inflammatory, fever, joint pains, malaria, diarrhea, leprosy, bilharzias, stomach pains, diabetes mellitus and its complications and other illnesses [53].…”