Identification of the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidenic principles of Cassia auriculata

Cassia auriculata is a popular Asian beverage and medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for treating diabetes and hyperlipidemic conditions. The scientific evidence for the folklore uses of the plant have been provided in recent years but the active principles remains to be isolated and identified. In the present study, an alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition studies as in vitro model of diabetes and obesity assays respectively were used. The clinically used drugs including acarbose and orlistat were used to serve as positive controls. It was found that the crude extract of C. auriculata has significant effect in both assay systems. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract resulted in the identification of kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside along with many related compounds. The activity profile (including synergism), therapeutic potential and structure-activity-relationship of the isolated compounds are discussed