Quality control and hypoglycemic effect evaluation of drugs with bauhinia forficata link. (fabaceae)

The objective of the present study was to analyze the quality of commercially available samples of the plant B. forficata and compare their hypoglycemic effects with those of in naturasamples. To that end, three samples of B. forficata were acquired from commercial sourcesand subjected to quality control tests to examine their adequacy for human consumption. The samples were found to contain potentially pathological microorganisms (Klebsiella sp. and Aspergillus sp.), disqualifying them from use due to their potential negative effects on public health. To compare the hypoglycemiceffects of the commercial samples with an in natura standard, hyperglycemia was induced in 36 male rats of the Wistar line (60 days old) by the administration of a hyperlipidicdiet for 60 days (from 60 to 120 days of life), except in the control group (G1). Hyperglycemia was confirmed at 120 days of life. The animals were subsequently randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. The G1 group served as the control (n=6), the G2 group received an aqueous extract (AqE) of B. forficata derived from a standard sample (in natura), groups G3, G4 and G5 received AqE from B. forficata samples 1, 2 and 3 respectively during 30 days. Group 6 did not receive any treatment withplant extracts and was returned to a normocaloric diet after the induction of hyperglycemia. Blood collections were made at 60, 90, 120 and 150 days of life; an oral test of glucose tolerance was made at 150 days. Our results indicated that the hyperlipidicdiet induced hyperglycemia, and that the standard in naturasample of B. forficataexerted a greater hypoglycemiceffect than the commercial samples.