Antidiabetic activity of Caesalpinia bonducella F. in chronic type 2 diabetic model in Long-Evans rats and evaluation of insulin secretagogue property of its fractions on isolated islets.

Caesalpinia bonducella F., is a shrub widely distributed throughout the coastal region of India and is ethnically used by the tribal people of Andaman and Nicober Island as a remedy of symptoms of diabetes mellitus. This ethnic report prompted the detail investigation of hypoglycemic activity of Caesalpinia bonducella seeds, initially on physiological hyperglycemic model and then on type 1 and type 2 sub-acute diabetic animal models which has already been reported. Evaluation of different extracts from Caesalpinia bonducella in chronic type 2 diabetic model alongwith insulin secretagogue activity of five fractions isolated from the Caesalpinia bonducella seed kernel are presented in this paper. Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed potent hypoglycemic activity in chronic type 2 diabetic model. Two fractions BM 169 and BM 170 B could increase secretion of insulin from isolated islets.

Advanced studies on the hypoglycemic effect of Caesalpinia bonducella F. in type 1 and 2 diabetes in Long Evans rats.

Caesalpinia bonducella, widely distributed throughout the coastal region of India and used ethnically by the tribal people of India for controlling blood sugar was earlier reported by us to possess hypoglycemic activity in animal model. This prompted us to undertake a detail study with the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the seeds of this plant in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus in Long Evans rats. Significant blood sugar lowering effect (P < 0.05) of C. bonducella was observed in type 2 diabetic model. Special emphasis was given on the mechanistic study by gut absorption of glucose and liver glycogen.