Antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Bauhinia variegata flower extract

To evaluate antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of Bauhinia variegata flower. Ethanolic extract of B. variegata was administered orally to Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats once daily for 21 days. Blood glucose levels were estimated at day 0, 7, 14 and 21 by glucometer (one touch) and lipid profile and histopathological examination of isolated organs (kidney, liver and pancreas) were also estimated on 21 day. The anti-oxidant activity of B. variegata was evaluated by performing 1,1-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging (H2O2) assays. B. variegata flower extract showed reduction in blood glucose level (90.00 mg/dL) at highest dose 400 mg/kg when compared with diabetic control rats (224.50 mg/dL). The levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were restored while administrating B. variegata. In addition, the percentage inhibition of B. variegata was 86.60% and 68.47% at 100 mu g/ml for DPPH and H2O2 radicals, respectively, which was near to standard BHT i.e. 91.63% (DPPH) and 73.42% (H2O2). It can be concluded from the present study that B. variegata possesses significant antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities.