Effect of Strophanthus hispidus Dc. (Apocynaceae) Roots Extract on Normal and Hyperglycemic Rats

Objective: To investigate the hypoglycemic activity of both ethanol extract Strophanthus hispidus root (EESHR) and chloroform extract Strophanthus hispidus root (CESHR) respectively.

Methods: Both ethanol extract Strophanthus. hispidus root and chloroform extract Strophanthus. hispidus root were evaluated respectively for hypoglycemic activity using Fasting blood glucose (FBG) method. Chloroform extract Strophanthus hispidus root was further fractionated using standard column chromatography techniques and the fractions were evaluated for hypoglycemic using standard oral glucose tolerance test method.

Results: In the experiments, the hypoglycemic activity of the chloroform extracts Strophanthus hispidus root was better than that of ethanol extract Strophanthus hispidus root at 500 mg/kg respectively for both extracts which were significant (p=0.05) and compared to gibenclamide.

Conclusion: The results showed that chloroform extract Strophanthus hispidus root fraction (3-4) at 200 mg/kg possesses significant hypoglycemic activity better than that of the standard drug-glibenclamide. This supports its use as a potent anti-diabetic drug in alternative herbal medicine.