The antihyperglycemic activity of leaves of Leptadenia reticulata Wight & Arn. (Goan-kha) on adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic rats

Win, Pyae Phyo and Lynn, Thurein and Soe, Htin Lin Naing and Htoon, Kyaw Zwar and Kyaing, Khin Ohnmar (2025) The antihyperglycemic activity of leaves of Leptadenia reticulata Wight & Arn. (Goan-kha) on adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic rats. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 31 (2). 085-092. ISSN 2581-3250

Background: In Myanmar, the leaves of Leptadenia reticulata Wight & Arn. (locally known as Goan-kha) are traditionally used for their purported anti-hyperglycemic effects. However, scientific validation of these effects remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic activity of a 70% ethanolic extract of Leptadenia reticulata Wight & Arn. leaves in an adrenaline-induced hyperglycemia model in rats. Method: A laboratory-based experimental study was conducted using thirty Wistar rats (180–220 g), which were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 6 per group): a normal control group (received normal saline, 10 mL/kg), a positive control group (received glibenclamide, 4 mg/kg), and three test groups administered ethanolic extract of L. reticulata at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg body weight, respectively. All animals were fasted for 12 hours prior to treatment. Forty-five minutes after drug or extract administration, hyperglycemia was induced via subcutaneous injection of adrenaline (0.8 mg/kg) in all groups. Blood glucose levels were measured using a glucometer at baseline (fasting), and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours post-adrenaline injection. Results: In the control group, mean blood glucose concentrations (mg/dL) at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours post-adrenaline injection were 117.17 ± 20.38, 316.00 ± 77.24, 232.33 ± 48.36, 133.33 ± 21.31, and 106.83 ± 10.69, respectively. Significantly lower blood glucose levels were observed in all extract-treated groups compared to the normal saline group at all time points (p < 0.003, p < 0.018, p < 0.048, p < 0.003). An acute toxicity study following OECD Guideline 425 revealed no lethality at doses up to 2000 mg/kg. Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, carbohydrates, amino acids, and resins, whereas glycosides and steroids were absent. Conclusion: The 70% ethanolic leaf extract of Leptadenia reticulata Wight & Arn. demonstrated significant short-term anti-hyperglycemic activity in adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic rats without observable toxicity, suggesting its potential as a supportive therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus, particularly under stress-related hyperglycemic conditions.