Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of alcoholic extract of Euphorbia leucophylla and its fractions in normal and in alloxan induced diabetic rats

The hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of alcoholic extract of Euphorbia leucophylla was investigated in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. A single oral administration of alcoholic extract at doses 100, 250 and 500 mg kg-1 produced a significant blood glucose reduction in a dose dependent manner and elevated the serum insulin levels in normal and diabetic rats. A bioguided extraction and fractionation of alcoholic extract of the roots of E. leucophylla afforded a new flavone xylopyranoside, 4', 5-Dihyroxy-6, 7-dimethoxy flavone-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (ELR-05), identified as active principle together with the known compounds taraxerol, taraxerone, lupeol, 3-O-(z)-p-coumaroyl taraxerol. The isolated compound, 4', 5-Dihyroxy-6, 7-dimethoxy flavone-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside obtained by ethylacetate fraction of alcoholic extract at doses 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and increased the serum insulin levels in normal and diabetic rats. These data confirm the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of alcoholic extract and its active isolated compound (ELR-05) in normal and diabetic rats.