Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bauhinia variegata, a ayurvedic medicinal plant reported for its valuable effects in various diseases. It has shown significant effects in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The present work was designed to study effects of aqueous and alcoholic extract (AE and AlcE) of Bauhinia variegata Linn. leaves in diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats become diabetic using intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 55 mg/kg dose. After 6 weeks, animals were divided and were treated with AE and AlcE at a dose of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg (p. o.) for the next four weeks. Various parameters such as glucose, thermal hyperagesia, mechanical allodynia, MNCV and oxidative stess were assessed at the end of the study. RESULTS: Diabetic animals showed a significant reduction in response time in tail immersion and hot plate test as compared to animals in normal control group. AE and AlcE at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg dose significantly increased response time in the tail immersion test. Whereas, AE and AlcE at doses 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed significant improvement and in response time in the hot plate test.AlcE at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg dose increased the nociceptive threshold significantly. AE at doses 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed significant improvement in the nociceptive threshold. The decrease in motor nerve conduction velocity was observed in diabetic control animals, which was significantly improved after AlcE treatment as compared to AE treatment. Treatment with AE and AlcE decreased the lipid peroxidation and increased the antioxidant enzyme activity significantly in the sciatic nerve. CONCLUSION: The results showed that Bauhinia variegata extracts may be considered as a effective option for management of diabetic neuropathy.