Effect of Cassia auriculata Linn Flowers Against Alloxan-induced Diabetes in Rats

Objective : To evaluate the antidiabetic activity of flowers of Cassia auriculata Linn against alloxaninduced diabetes in rats and to isolate the bioactive constituents from the activity guided fraction. Materials and methods : The ethanol & aqueous extracts of flowers of Cassia auriculata were obtained by continuous soxhlet extraction & cold maceration respectively. Each extract was assessed for antidiabetic activity by estimating serum glucose level in diabetic rats. The active ethanol extract was subjected to qualitative chemical analysis to identify the active phytoconstituents. The sterol; β sitosterol, was isolated from ethanol extract by column chromatography. Results : In alloxan-induced diabetic rats the ethanol extract (250 mg / kg, p.o.) showed significant (P<0.001) antidiabetic activity as observed from serum glucose level in diabetic rats. However, the aqueous extract (250 mg / kg, p.o.) did not significantly reduce the serum glucose level in diabetic rats. The ethanol extract showed the presence of sterols, triterpenoids, flavonoids and tannins. Conclusion : From the results, it is revealed that, the active ethanol extract of Cassia auriculata flowers is worthwhile to develop the bioactive principle for diabetes mellitus and it is also concluded that the isolated sterol; β sitosterol, could be attributed for antidiabetic activity.