Abstract

Aim: Bauhinia forficata (BF) is used in folk medicine to reduce glycemia in diabetes. We evaluated the glucose hepatic metabolism (ex vivo) and the hypoglycemic effects (in vivo) of an ethanolic extract of BF leaves (BFEE) in normoglycemic and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: The livers of rats were perfused with BFEE (40 mg L-1) and glucose metabolism under fed or fasting conditions (L-glutamine as the substrate) was analyzed. Additionally, rats were divided into 4 groups for oral treatment: vehicle-treated non-diabetic rats; BFEE-treated (300 mg kg-1) non-diabetic rats; vehicle-treated diabetic rats; and BFEE-treated (300 mg kg-1) diabetic rats. Glycemia was measured acutely and after 7 days of treatment; plasma biochemistry, hepatic glycogen contents, and hepatic and pancreatic histology were evaluated after this period. Results: Liver infusion of BFEE in fed and fasted diabetic rats reduced glucose and lactate production, respectively; however, BFEE did not affect glycemia or hepatic glycogen levels. Plasma transaminases increased in diabetic animals receiving the extract. The STZ model reduced by nearly half the number of Langerhans' islets in comparison to non-diabetic animals, however no pancreatic difference was observed between diabetic animals treated with extract and diabetic animals treated with vehicle. Conclusions: BFEE interferes with hepatic glycolysis, glucogenesis, and lactate production from L-glutamine. Thus the BFEE effects depend of the alimentary state. However, it did not suppress hyperglycemia in diabetic rats.

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