Pterocarpus santalinoides and Pterocarpus mildbraedii Twigs Extracts Induced Alterations of Blood Glucose, Triglyceride and Cholesterol Concentrations of Oryctolagus cuniculus

Background: Therapeutic potentials of plants are recognized through comprehensive research on the medicinal properties of their bioactive components. About 80% of people in developing countries depend on plants as alternative sources of medicine. This study investigates the bioactive components of Pterocarpus santalinoides and Pterocarpus mildbraedii twigs and their effect on blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations of Oryctolagus cuniculus

Materials and Methods: Fresh twigs of P. santaliniodes and P. mildbraedii were separately destalked, washed, dried and pulverized. The bioactive components extracted using dichloromethane as solvent were analyzed using GC-MS. The extracts were analyzed using a combined gas chromatograph model HP 6890 and mass spectrometer model 5973 (AgilentTech.) fitted with a capillary column HP-5 MS (5% phenylmethylsiloxane) 30.0 m x 250μm x 0.25μm with Helium as the carrier gas. The effect of the bioactive components on blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were studied. The animals were acclimatise, feed with pellets ad libitum and treated with varying concentrations of P. santalinoides (groups C1, D1 and E1) and P. mildbraedii (groups C2, D2 and E2) twig extracts via oral intubation, while groups A and B were treated with0.0 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of olive oil respectively. Blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol were determined from blood samples collected from the pinna vein of the animals using Multi Care Meter.

Results: Highest bioactive component in P. santalinoides and P. mildbraedii were apiol (44.974%) and hexadecane,2,6,10,14-tetramethyl- (51.668%). Glucose concentration was highest at day 3 in O. cuniculus treated with 150 mg per kg body weight of P. santalinoides extract with a value of 191.0 + 1.0 mg/dl. Triacylglyceride and Cholesterol concentrations were climaxed on days 0 and 15 in those treated with 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight of P. mildbraedii extracts, with values of 147.0 ± 7.0 mg/dl and 179.0 + 3.0 mg/dl respectively.

Conclusion: Extracts of P. santalinoides can be relevant in the management of hypoglycemia and low blood triglyceride, while maintaining a low cholesterol level.