Salma A El-Sawi and Amani A Sleem
Keywords: Senna surattensis, Caesalpiniaceae, volatiles, antihyperglycemia, antihyperlipidemia, unsaponifiable matter, fatty acids. INTRODUCTION
Abstract: Senna surattensis was used in folk medicine as a hypoglycemic plant. GC/MS technique was used for the identification of volatiles, saponifiable and unsaponifiable matters. Fifty two compounds were identified in the volatiles. The volatiles were composed mainly of oxygenated compounds. Andro-encecalinol was the major component. Twenty three fatty acids were found in the sap. fraction. The unsaturated fatty acids represented (11.62%). The most abundant ones were oleic and linoleic acids. Thirty two compounds were identified in unsaponifiable matter, mostly hydrocarbons. The major compound was prehnitol. Limonene, azulene, phytol and squalene were present in considerable amounts. For the investigation of the biological activities, two groups of male albino rats were used. The first group was injected with alloxan to induce diabetes. The hyprglycemic rats were fed on the leaf extract for 8 weeks. The second group was fed for two months on high fat to induce hyperlipidemia. Four and eight weeks after administration of the extract, blood samples were collected. Blood glucose level was measured in the first group. Total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c and LDL-c were determined in the second group. The significant reduction in glucose and lipid profiles of plasma indicates the efficacy of S. surattensis leaf extract as a feed supplement for controlling blood glucose and body lipid metabolism.
[View Complete Article]