Screening of Ethanolic Extract of Borassus flabellifer Flowers for its Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Potential

Diabetes mellitus is an age old metabolic disorder characterized by increased blood glucose levels. This may be due to deficiency of insulin (Type I Diabetes) or insulin resistance (Type II Diabetes). Traditional system of medicine provides with many plant sources for the effective management of diabetes mellitus preferable than any other system of medicine. The rationale behind use of such herbal medicines is to be supported by establishing the scientific basis for their traditional claims. In the present study ethanolic extract of Borassus flabellifer flowers was screened for its anti-diabetic potential against alloxan induced diabetic rats. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), blood glucose level, serum lipid profile and histological study of pancreas were performed. The free radical scavenging effect was studied by using DPPH method. After administration of the ethanolic extract, there was a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels from 60 min (OGTT) acute study reveals blood glucose lowering potential of 20 % at 6 hr whereas sub-acute study after 15 days of treatment it was observed to be 35 %. The extract exerts a significant DPPH radical scavenging effect. From the data it can be inferred that ethanolic extract of Borassus flabellifer flowers are in confirmation with the claims made in traditional system of medicine. This marked antihyperglycemic effect and in vitro antioxidant potential may be attributed to the presence of active constituent’s like flavonoids and triterpenoids.