Advances in Biological Research 8 (1): 29-36, 2014

ISSN 1992-006
IDOSI Publications, 2014
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.abr.2014.8.1.81138

Antioxidant and Anti-Diabetic Activities of

the Methanolic Extract of Premna integrifolia Bark
Rajib Majumder, 1Shahina Akter,
Zannatul Naim, 2Md. Al-Amin and 1,3Md. Badrul Alam
1

Department of Pharmacy, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3
Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract: Premna integrifolia Linn (Family: Verbenaceae) synonyms of Premna serratifolia has tremendous
medicinal value. The methanolic extract of Premna integrifolia (MEPI) bark was subjected to investigate its
antidiabetic activity along with its in vitro antioxidant activity. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT),
normoglycemic test and alloxan induced diabetic test was consider for antidiabetic activity evaluation. In
addition, total phenolic content, total antioxidant activity, scavenging of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)
radical as well as reducing power assessment was used to evaluate antioxidant potentiality of MEPI. The
continuous post treatment for 120 min with the MEPI showed potential hypoglycemic activity in OGTT and
normoglycemic rats. At a dose of 300 mg/kg the extract, considerable drop in elevated blood glucose level was
observed in the alloxan induced diabetic (p<0.05) rat after 7 days. It revealed radical scavenging properties in
the DPPH assay (IC50 = 8.61 0.16g/ml). The finding of this study suggested that MEPI provide as a part of
scientific support for the use of this species in traditional medicine for Diabetes mellitus.
Key words: Premna Integrifolia

Diabetes

Antioxidant

INTRODUCTION

Reducing Power

Total Phenolic Content

Plants play an important role in the treatment of

Diabetes, especially who have limited resource and do not
have any modern facilities, normally in developing
countries. Report of ethnobotany revealed that about 800
medicinal plants have antidiabetic activity [4] and the bio
active compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids,
carotenoids and floavonoids are very effective drugs both
in preclinical and clinical studies [5, 6]. Various side
effects by using insulin and oral hypoglycemic agent,
modern countries and high-tech. pharmaceutical
companies showed their interest to produce plant base
medicine [7]. So, it is important to investigate different
plants or plant base medicine for DM. On that point of
view we try to figure out the hypoglycemic effect of
Premna integrifolia on rats.
Premna serratifolia Linn (Family: Verbenaceae)
synonyms of Premna integrifolia, It is known as
Agnimantha in Ayurvedic system of medicine, is a
small-sized tree or a large shrub, up to 9m in height with a
comparatively short trunk and numerous branches.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrinal metabolic

disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia,
cell with carbohydrate
damaged pancreatic
complication, metabolism of fat and protein occurred by
abnormal secretion of insulin, defects in insulin action or
both [1] additionally increased risk of complications of
various vascular diseases. Specialist suggested that
diabetes is the third leading cause of death due to the
high percentage of morbidity and mortality after cancer
and cardiovascular disorders. For DM various
complications occurs in human body like renal failure,
coronary artery disorders, blindness, neurological
complications, cerebro-vascular disease, limb amputation,
failure of function of different body parts with premature
death etc [2]. Insulin therapy and life style modifications
or long term use of oral hypoglycemic agents, physical
exercises with dietary control can be the medication of
Diabetes mellitus [3].

Corresponding Author: Md. Badrul Alam, Department of Pharmacy,

Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology House # 83, Road # 4, Block # B,
Banani, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh. Tel: +88-01717057701.

29

Advan. Biol. Res., 8 (1): 29-36, 2014

Animals: Young Long-Evans rats of either sex aged 4

(four) months, weighing about 80-120gm were used for the
experiment. The rats were purchased from the animal
Research Branch of the International Centre for Diarrheal
Disease and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) and is
used for the evaluation of antidiabetic activity and for its
effect on oral glucose tolerance as well as hypoglycemic
activity. The animals were housed under standard
laboratory conditions (relative humidity 55-65%, room
temperature 23.02.0C and 12-hr light: 12-hr dark cycle).
The animals were fed with a standard diet and water ad
libitum regularly in all animal experiments and all were
monitored and maintained in accordance with CPCSEA
guidelines on control and supervision. The guidelines of
the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, ICDDR, B
were followed here.

The plants grow wild and planted in many districts of

Bangladesh [8] and almost all parts of this plant i.e. root,
leaf and bark has tremendous medicinal value. The roots
are used in the treatment of diabetes, chyluria,
inflammations, swellings, bronchitis, dyspepsia, liver
disorders, piles, constipation and fever [9]. It is widely
used by the traditional practitioners as cardiotonic,
antibiotic, anti-coagulant, stomachic, carminative,
hepatoprotective, antitumor etc [10]. Previous
pharmacological studies include reports of hypolipidemic
[11], anti-inflammatory [12], antidiabetic [13],
hepatoprotective [10], anti-microbial [14] and antitumor
activity [10].
Previous phytochemical investigations have revealed
the presence of several glycoside including iridoid
glycosides and phenylethanoids like premnethanoside A
and B, Sudo, Takushi and Ide [15] some xanthones [16],
steroids and saponins [17], flavonoids, triterpenoids and
diterpenoids (including premnones A and C) in Premna
serratifolia leaves [17]. Investigations on Premna
serratifolia flower buds have revealed the presence of
volatile oil comprising mainly 1-octen-3-0l, (Z)-n-hexanol,
2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, (E,Z)-2,4-nonadienal and linalool
[19]. The roots has been found to contain the mixture of
mono-, di-, tri-terpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated
biological materials includes 1H-Cycloprop[e]azulen-7-ol,
decahydro-1, 2-Furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl),
2-Hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde,
2s,6s-2,6,8,8Tetramethyltricyclo
[5.2.2.0(1,6)]undecan-2-ol,
Benzofuran, 2,3-dihydro, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 2Propenoic acid [20].
With a view to find the pharmacological rationale for
some of the reported and traditional uses of the plant, the
methanol extract of Premna serratifolia bark was
evaluated for antidiabetic activity and for its effect on oral
glucose tolerance as well as hypoglycemic activity in rats.
It was also studied for its antioxidant potentiality in
in vitro.

Chemicals and Reagents: Ammonium molybdate, Folinchiocaltu phenol reagent, were purchased from E. Merck
(Germany). 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH),
ascorbic acid, quercetin and potassium ferric cyanide were
purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company (St.
Louis, MO, USA). Normal saline solution was purchased
from Beximco Infusion Ltd., Bangladesh. One Touch
Glucometer (Accu-chek Sensor) and Diagnostic-kits were
purchased from Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim,
Germany. Metformin was obtained as a gift from Square
Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Bangladesh. All chemicals were
used of standard analytical reagent grade.
Acute Toxicity Test: Test animals were divided into
groups (n = 6 per group) which were administered
different doses of the crude MEPI in Long-Evans rats
(62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg p. o.)
accordingly, while the control group received only the
vehicle (1% Tween 80 in water, p. o.). The general signs
and symptoms of toxicity were observed for 24 hr and
mortality was recorded for each group at the end of this
period [20].

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro Antioxidant Activity

The Amount of Phenolic Compounds and Flavonoids: The
total phenolic content of methanolic extract and several
organic fractions were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu
reagent [21]. MEPI (100 l) were mixed with the FolinCiocalteu reagent (500 l) and 20% sodium carbonate (1.5
ml) in the tube, which was boiled for 5 min and the pre
incubated at 37C for 5 min. The mixture was shaken
thoroughly and made up to 10 ml with distilled water. The
mixture was allowed to stand for 2 hr. Then the
absorbance at 760 nm using a Shimadzu UV-

Plant Materials and Extraction: The fresh barks of

Premna integrifolia plant were collected from
Sunderbans, Bagerhat in the month of September, 2009
and identified by DR. M.A. Razzaque Shah PhD, Tissue
Culture Specialist, BRAC Plant Biotechnology Laboratory,
Bangladesh. The dried and coarsely powdered leaves (400
g) were extracted with methanol at room temperature
251C for 72 hr. The filtrate was evaporated to dry under
reduced pressure (45C) to afford the crude extract (yield
ca. 6%) used in pharmacological screening.
30

Advan. Biol. Res., 8 (1): 29-36, 2014

Antidiabetic Activity
Study on Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): OGTT of
plant extracts was carried out in overnight fasted normal
rats, which were equally divided into four groups of six
rats each. Group of normal control received only vehicle
(1 ml of 0.3% CMC; p. o.) and standard group received 1
ml of reference drug Metformin suspended in the vehicle
(150 mg/kg, p. o.), while group from third to fourth were
administered with 1 ml of MEPI (150 and 300 mg/kg, p. o.)
respectively. Thereafter, following 30 min post extract
administration all the animals were fed with glucose (2
g/kg). Blood samples were collected from tail vein prior to
dosing and then at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after oral
glucose administration [23]. The fasting blood glucose
level was analyzed by using glucose-oxidase-peroxide
reactive strips (Accu-chek, Roche Diabnostics, GmbH,
Germany) [24].

1601spectrophotometer and the results were expressed as

g/mg of gallic acid equivalent was determined. These
data were used to estimate the phenolic contents using a
standard curve obtained from various concentration of
Gallic acid. Optical density of each sample was determined
at 415 nm using an UV spectrophotometer. Total
flavonoids content was calculated by interpolation on a
standard curve established with a reference standard,
Quercetin.
Determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity: The
antioxidant activity of the MEPI was evaluated by the
phosphomolybdenum method according to the procedure
of Prieto et al. [22]. The assay is based on the reduction
of Mo (VI)-Mo (V) by the extract and subsequent
formation of a green phosphate/Mo (V) complex at acid
pH. Extract (0.3 ml) was combined with 3ml of reagent
solution (0.6M sulfuric acid, 28mM sodium phosphate and
4mM ammonium molybdate). The tubes containing the
reaction solution were incubated at 95C for 90 min. Then
the absorbance of the solution was measured at 695 nm
using a spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, UV-150-02) against
blank after cooling at room temperature. Methanol (0.3 ml)
is used as the blank experiment. The antioxidant activity
is expressed as the number of equivalents of ascorbic acid
using the following formula:

Study on Normoglycemic Rats: Normoglycemic studies

were carried out in overnight fasted normal rats, which
were equally divided into five groups of six rats each. The
normal control group received only vehicle (1 ml of 0.3%
CMC; p. o.) and standard group received 1 ml of reference
drug Metformin suspended in the vehicle (150 mg/kg, p.
o.), while group from third to fourth were administered
with 1 ml of MEPI (150 and 300 mg/kg, p. o.) respectively.
Blood samples were collected from tail vein prior to
dosing and then at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after glucose
administration [23]. The fasting blood glucose level was
analyzed by using glucose-oxidase-peroxide reactive
strips (Accu-chek, Roche Diabnostics, GmbH, Germany)
[24].

C = (c x V)/m
Where: Ctotal antioxidant activity, mg/g plant extract,
in Ascorbic acid; cthe concentration of ascorbic acid
established from the calibration curve, mg/ml; V the
volume of extract, ml; mthe weight of pure plant
extract, g.

Study on Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats: Diabetes was

produced by single intra-peritoneal injection (single dose)
of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg b. wt.) in 0.9% w/v
NaCl solution (normal saline) to overnight fasted normal
rats, aged 4(four) months with 80-120gm body weight.
Blood glucose level was checked by using one-touch
glucometer and hyperglycemia was confirmed after 72 hr
of alloxan application. Rats have FBG>250 mg/dl were
considered to be diabetic and were selected for studies.
Animals selected were fasted over night and then divided
into five groups (n=6) as follows: Group-I: Normal control
rats (non-alloxanized) that was administered with vehicle
(1 ml of 0.3% CMC; p. o.) only; Group-II: Diabetic control
rats (Untreated, alloxanized); Group-III: Diabetic rats
administered once with metformin (150 mg/kg b. wt.) as
reference standard drug while; Group-III to V: Diabetic
rats administered with MED (150 and 300 mg/kg/day)
respectively. Treatment was continued for a period of

Free Radical Scavenging Activity Measured by 1, 1Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH): The free radical
scavenging activity of MEPI based on the scavenging
activity of the stable 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl
(DPPH) free radical was determined by the method
described by Braca et al. [18]. MEPI (0.1 ml) was added to
3ml of a 0.004% MeOH solution of DPPH. Absorbance at
517nm was determined after 30 min and the percentage
inhibition activity was calculated from
[(A0-A1)/A0] x 100
Where A0 is the absorbance of the control and A 1is the
absorbance of the extract/ standard. IC50 value was
calculated from the equation of line obtained by plotting
a graph of concentration ( g/ml) versus % inhibition.
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Advan. Biol. Res., 8 (1): 29-36, 2014

7 days following oral administration to the experimental

animals by gastric intubation, using a force-feeding
needle. Plasma glucose was estimated on withdrawing
blood samples were from tail vein prior to dosing (day 0)
and then at regular intervals of day 3 and 7 respectively all
groups of animals [24].

Total Antioxidant Capacity: Percentage yield of

methanolic extract of Premna integrifolia (MEPI) and its
total antioxidant capacity are given in Table 1. Total
antioxidant capacity of MEPI bark is expressed as the
number of equivalent of ascorbic acid and was found to
be 19.80 0.02 mg/g equivalent of ascorbic acid.

Statistical Analysis: All data were expressed as mean

standard error of mean (S.E.M.). Statistical significance
was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)
followed by Dunnetts post hoc test of significance. All
statistical analyses were performed with Prism 4.0
(GraphPad software Inc., San Diego, CA). P<0.05 was
considered to be significant.

DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity: The methanolic

extract of Premna integrifolia (MEPI) showed a
concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity by
inhibiting DPPH (Figure 1) with an IC50 value of 8.61
0.16g/ml. Ascorbic acid, used as the positive control in
this test, had an IC50 value of 10.29 0.11 g/ml
Antidiabetic Activity
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) Activity: Table 2
illustrates the effect of MEPI (150 and 300 mg/kg) on
OGTT at different time points. The oral administration of
both doses of MEPI significantly (P<0.001) decrease the
plasma sugar level compared to control in a dose
dependent manner.

RESULTS
Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis and Acute Toxicity:
The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the
methanolic extract of Premna integrifolia indicated the
presence of sterols, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. No
lethal effects were observed within 24 hr after the
administration of the extract at any of the doses used,
even at the highest dose tested (4000 mg/kg). Therefore,
the lethal dose (LD50) of the extract in mice could not be
determined.

Normoglycemic Activity: Time dependant effect of MEPI

(150 and 300 mg/kg, p. o.) on the level of plasma glucose
level in fasted normoglycemic rats is completely described
in Table 3. MEPI, at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight,
showed the almost similar effects that of the standard
drug Metformin.

Antioxidant Activity
Total Phenolic Contents: The total phenols content was
found to be 31.92 0.04 mg/g plant extract (in galic acid
equivalent), in crude extract of MEPI, presented in
Table 1.

Hyperglycemic Activity: Administration of Alloxan

(110 mg/kg body weight) resulted in considerable increase
of glucose level. Administration of MEPI at a dose of

Table 1: Yield, total amount of plant phenolic compounds and total antioxidant capacity of MEPI
Sample
MEPI

Yield (%)

Total phenol mg/g plant extract (in GAE)a

10%

Total antioxidant capacity mg/g extract (in ASC)

31.92 0.04

19.80 0.02

Gallic acid equivalents (GAE, mg/g of each extract) for the total phenolic content. Ascorbic acid equivalents (mg/g of each extract) for the total antioxidant
capacity. The GAE and ASC values are expressed as Mean SEM of triplicate experiments.
Table 2: Hypoglycemic effect of MEPI in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
Blood Glucose Level in m mol/L
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Groups

0 min

30 min

60 min

90 min

120 min

Group I
Group II

5.64 1.22

10.00 3.06

11.12 0.82

9.1 2.19

7.78 4.37

5.32 1.32

8.26 3.74*

7.28 3.21*

6.14 1.21*

4.94 3.22*

Group III
Group IV

5.54 1.26

9.28 3.19

9.04 2.45

7.24 4.26

6.26 1.75

5.58 2.11

8.36 2.15*

7.56 3.25*

6.3 4.72*

5.46 2.10 *

Values are mean SEM, (n = 5); * p<0.05, One way ANOVA followed by Dunnet test as compared to vehicle control. Group I animals received vehicle (0.3%
CMC), Group II received Metformin 150 mg/kg body weight, Group III and Group IV were treated with 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (p. o.) of the MEPI.

32

Advan. Biol. Res., 8 (1): 29-36, 2014

Table 3: Hypoglycemic effect of MEPI in fasted normoglycemic rats
Blood Glucose Level in m mol/L
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Groups

0 min

30 min

60 min

90 min

120 min

Group I
Group II

5.56 1.12

5.46 1.06

5.48 2.82

5.02 3.11

5.06 2.31

5.48 1.42

4.10 2.24*

3.28 1.27*

2.60 1.01*

1.74 1.22*

Group III

5.44 1.22

4.70 1.19

3.88 2.05

2.86 2.20

2.04 1.15*

Group IV

5.62 1.11

4.28 1.15

2.60 1.22

1.78 1.10 *

3.32 1.22

Values are mean SEM, (n = 5); * p<0.05, Dunnet test as compared to vehicle control. Group I animals received vehicle (0.3% CMC), Group II received
Metformin 150 mg/kg body weight, Group III and Group IV were treated with 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (p. o.) of the MEPI.
Table 4: Hypoglycemic effect of MEPI in Alloxan induced diabetic animals
Blood glucose level in m mol/l
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group

1st day

3rd day

7th day

Group I

5.641.12

5.22 1.87

5.26 3.11

Group II

21.242.43

21.08 3.06

22.64 8.56

Group III

14.362.75

8.72 5.77*

6.08 5.23*

Group IV

16.241.22

12.02 1.15

8.22 3.51*

Group V

14.723.41

9.58 5.24

6.48 3.23*

Values are mean SEM, (n = 5); *P<0.05, Dunnet test as compared to vehicle control. Group I animals received vehicle (0.3% CMC), Group II received
Alloxan 110 mg/kg body weight, Group III received Metformin 150 mg/kg body weight, Group IV and Group V were treated with 150 and 300 mg/kg body
weight (p. o.) of the MEPI.

% Inhibition

100.000

of total antioxidant activity can be useful in the

analysis of changes in plasma antioxidant activity
related to oxidative stress, or the understanding of
structure-activity relationships of pure antioxidant
species. Because of its simplicity and the cheap
reagents it used, the Phosphomolybdenum method
is an alternative in all methods those already
available for the evaluation of total antioxidant
capacity. The Phosphomolybdenum method was
based on the reduction of Mo (VI) to Mo (V) by the
compounds having antioxidant property and is
successfully used to quantify vitamin E in seeds
[22]. DPPH is a stable free radical that accepts an
electron or hydrogen radical to become a stable
diamagnetic molecule [25] and is usually used as a
substrate to evaluate the antioxidant activity of a
compound [26]. Based on the data obtained from this
study, DPPH radical scavenging activity of MEPI (IC 50
8.61 0.16g/ml) was similar to the standard ascorbic acid
(IC50 10.29 0.11g/ml). These findings agree with
previous reports on scavenging of free radicals with other
parts of Premna integrifolia stem, bark, wood and roots
[27, 28]. Moreover, it was revealed that MEPI did show
the proton donating ability and could serve as free radical
inhibitor or scavenger.

50.000

Ascorbic acid
MEPI

0.000
0.000

20.000

40.000

60.000

80.000

100.000

Concentration (microgram/ml)

Fig. 1: Comparative % inhibition of DPPH showed by

standard antioxidant (ascorbic acid) and MEPI
(Values are mean SEM, n = 3)
300mg/kg body weight administered for seven days were
able to correct this situation significantly (P<0.05). The
results of all the formulations tested are presented in
Table 4.
DISCUSSIONS
Determination of specific antioxidant species
might be less useful than the knowledge of the
total antioxidant capacity of a sample. The knowledge
33

Advan. Biol. Res., 8 (1): 29-36, 2014

The methanolic extract of Premna integrifolia may be

considered to have good anti-hyperglycemic active
principles. The phytochemical screening of Premna
integrifolia bark revealed the presence alkaloids,
glycosides, terpenoids, carotenoids and floavonoids
known to be bioactive antidiabetic principles [5, 6].
Flavonoids are known to regenerate the damaged beta
cells in the alloxan diabetic rats [33]. Phenolics are found
to be effective anti-hyperglycemic agents [34]. In the
present study, 31.92 0.04 mg/g phenolic compounds
were found to be present in the methanolic extract of
Premna integrifolia bark (Table 1) so it may be one of the
reasons that methanolic extract shows good
hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activity. The
antidiabetic effect of methanolic extract of Premna
integrifolia may be due to the presence of more than one
anti-hyperglycemic principle and their synergistic
properties. In this study, the anti-hyperglycemic activity
caused by metformin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats is an
indication of the presence of some beta cells, as metformin
is known to stimulate insulin secretion from beta cells.

Present study indicates that MEPI (300mg/Kg b. wt.)

significantly decreased serum glucose level in
hyperglycemic rats. Alloxan is the most frequently
employed agent for the induction of experimental
diabetic animal models of human insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus. There is escalating evidence that
alloxan caused diabetes by rapid exhaustion of a
cells, by DNA alkylation and gathering of cytotoxic
free radicals that is suggested to result from initial
islet inflammation, followed by infiltration of activated
macrophages and lymphocyte in the inflammatory focus.
It leads to a fall in insulin release there by a drastic
diminution in plasma insulin concentration leading to
stable hyperglycemic states [29]. It induces diabetes by
dose dependent destruction of -cells of islets of
langerhans [30, 31]. So, in the present study alloxan
was chosen to create diabetic condition in rat and
significant hyperglycemia was achieved within 48 hours
after alloxan (110g/kg b. wt. i. p.) injection. The results
obtained (Table 2) showed that after a single
administration of glucose 200 mg/kg in rat, there was a
significant reduction (p < 0.05) of fasting blood glucose
level during the 12 hr study period. The research on
antidiabetic activity in alloxan diabetic rats, administration
of MEPI of 300mg/kg body weight administered for 7 days
was able to correct this anomaly and significantly (p<0.05
and p<0.001). Significant reduction of blood glucose was
observed from the 7th day of the study. The comparable
effect of the experimental extract with Metformin HCl may
suggest similar mode of action since alloxan permanently
destroys the pancreatic cells and the extract lowered
blood sugar level in alloxan diabetic rats, indicating that
the extract possesses extra pancreatic effect. On the
progression of treatment with methanolic extract of
Premna integrifolia (MEPI) (300 mg/kg b. wt.) produced
maximum reduction to 6.48 3.23m mol/L on 7th day
whereas reduction to 6.08 5.23m mol/L was found for
metformin on 7th day (Table 4). These observations
suggest that the experimental extract might acquire insulin
like effect on peripheral tissues either by promoting
glucose consumption metabolism or inhibiting hepatic
gluconeogenesis since alloxan treatment causes
permanent destruction of cells [32]. Changes in initial
and final body weight in control and experimental groups
are shown in Table 3 and 4. Significant weight loss was
observed in diabetic rats compared to control nondiabetic rats. Treatment with Premna integrifolia bark
extract or Metformin improved the body weight as
compared to normal control rats.

CONCLUSION
Our preliminary pharmacological studies on the
methanol extract of Premna integrifolia bark provide in a
part of scientific support in traditional medicine,
particularly in diabetes. However, further pharmacological
investigations are required to understand its underlying
mode of action on the antidiabetic activity. In addition,
future bioactivity-guided phytochemical work should be
carried out to identify any active constituent(s).
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