Abstract:
This study investigates the oral hypoglycaemic activity of Aponogeton
cryspus (kekatiya), an endemic protected aquatic plant commonly found in
Sri Lanka. Fresh plant material was collected from two sources (Gampaha
and Colombo districts) and pooled together. A combination of flowers with
stalk (Combined F and S) of A. cryspus was boiled with water according to
the conventional method used in Ayurveda. Different concentrations of the
aqueous crude extract of Combined F and S were administered to healthy,
overnight fasted Wistar rats (n=6 per group) at doses of 22.5, 45, 90 and
180 mg/kg. Rats were subjected to glucose challenge after 30 minutes and
serum glucose concentration was determined two hours after the
administration of the extract. The results showed that the extract possessed
significant oral hypoglycaemic activity (p<0.05). Using a dose response
curve, 90 mg/kg was identified as the maximally effective dose. Serum
glucose reduction when compared with control group was 20.0%. Optimal
time of action was investigated for Combined F and S using the maximally
effective dose. Thirty minutes following administration of the extract, a
glucose load (3g/kg) was given. Blood was collected 30min, 60min and
120min after the glucose load and serum glucose concentrations were
determined. The highest reduction in the serum glucose concentration was
observed 120 min after the administration of glucose. The hypoglycaemic
activity of the crude aqueous extract of A. cryspus was found to be
comparable to that of metformin.