Phytochemical and hypoglycemic effect investigation of methanolic flower extract from Piper claussenianum

Species of the genus Piper, the most important genus of Piperaceae Family, are widely used in traditional medicine for the treat many conditions. Chemical investigations of Piper species revealed many bioactive metabolites as amides, lignans, alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids among others. In order to investigate native Piper species, phytochemical analysis of Piper claussenianum C. DC. flower extracts were performed. A flavonoid rich methanolic extract from P. claussenianum flowers was tested for hypoglycemic effect in rats with type 1 diabetes. Seven days after the induction, rats with glucose levels above 200mg/dL began to be treated with vehicle or extract. Treatment lasted for 14 days and rats had glucose levels measured on days 0, 5 and 14. Glucose levels of both groups were also measured after 7 days of treatment interruption. Glucose levels of vehicle and extract groups were: day 0 (346.14±41.67 and 275.29±27.13, p>0.05, n=7), day 5 (290.14±32.65 and 122.71±7.19, p<0.05, n=7), day 14 (370.75±77.89 and 137.50±17.70, p<0.05, n=4). Seven days after treatment interruption, glucose levels were 304.14±71.16 (vehicle, n=7) and 255.50±114.86 (extract, n=4). Thus, the results suggest the remarkable presence of 2',6'-Dihydroxy-4'-Methoxychalcone on methanolic flower extract of Piper claussenianum has a noteworthy role to reduce blood glucose levels in rats with type 1 diabetes.

Acknowledgement: The authors thank to CNPq.