Studies on anti-diabetic activities in flowers of avaram, Senna auriculata, (L.) roxb.

The research project on “Studies on anti-diabetic activities in flowers, leaves and barks of Avaram, Senna auriculata (L.) Roxb.” was carried out at Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tiruchirappalli during 2015-16. Avaram is used in the treatment of diabetes in Siddha and Ayurvedic medicines. The flowers, leaves and bark of Avaram were collected from Medicinal Park, Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tiruchirappalli and Krishnagiri. The methanol extract of flowers exhibited high alpha-amylase inhibition compared to leaves and barks. The highest α-amylase inhibition was recorded in flowers at 40 μg ml⁻¹ (86.2%) followed by 30 μg ml⁻¹ (85.5%) with IC₅₀ value of 21 μg ml⁻¹. The highest inhibition was recorded in leaves of Avaram at 40 μg ml⁻¹ (71.11%) followed by 30 μg ml⁻¹ (69.25%) with IC₅₀ value of 19 μg ml⁻¹. The highest inhibition was recorded in the bark of Avaram at 40 μg ml⁻¹ (64%) followed by 30 μg ml⁻¹ (62.62%) with IC₅₀ value of 22 μg ml⁻¹. DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be high in flowers compared to leaves and barks. The highest radical scavenging activity was recorded in flowers at 80 μg ml⁻¹ (73.78%) sample followed by 100 μg ml⁻¹ (73.32 %) with IC₅₀ value of 55 μg ml⁻¹. In GC-MS/MS analysis of flowers, the highest peak area was recorded for Myo-inositol 4-C- methyl (53.91 %) followed by resorcinol (20.71%). The anti-diabetic compounds include Myo-inositol 4-C methyl, resorcinol, polyphenols and sterols.