Evaluation of the hypoglycemic activity of extracts from Boldoa purpurascens Cav

Boldoa purpuracens Cav. (1), a plant belonging to Nyctaginaceae family, is traditionally used for its diuretic effect comparable to furosemide (2). In the species described the presence of several flavonoid compounds widely used for its diversity of actions among which is the hypoglycemic.

The phytochemical analysis by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy allowed the presence of D-pinitol in the ethanol extract from the leaves of the plant (3).

The aimed of the investigation was checking the hypoglycemic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts obtained from Boldoa purpurascens at doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg using insulin 5UI/kg as a positive control and NaCl 0.9% as negative control. Another experiment was performed similar but dried aqueous extract was used at doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg; using metformin at dose of 50mg/kg as a positive control and keeping the 0.9% NaCl as a negative control. The statistical analysis was carried out by the test of Kruskal Wallis with an interval of trust of 99%. The study concluded that the species possesses hypoglycemic activity at all doses tested in both extracts, being the reduction greater for the ethanol extract (40%), comparable to insulin.

Keywords: Boldoa purpurascens, antidiabetic

References: 1. Roig J T (1988) Dictionary of Cuban Common names, pp 225226.

2. Gonzalez D (2006) Doctoral Theses.

3. Bates S, Jones R, Baylei C (2000) Brit J Pharmacol 130:1944–1948.