WATER EXTRACT OF CAESALPINIA PULCHERRIMA FLOWERS INCREASES GLUCOSE UPTAKE IN INSULIN RESISTANT ADIPOCYTES IN A DOSEDEPENDENT MANNER

Abstract

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (CP) flower extract has been shown to have antidiabetic effects on pancreatic beta cell regeneration and improved skeletal muscle glucose utilisation. However, little is known about its effect on adipocytes, particularly insulin resistant adipocytes. This study investigated the possibility of improving glucose uptake in adipocytes obtained from chickens which are naturally insulin resistant via direct effects of water extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima flowers. The extract was prepared by boiling air dried CP flowers in a water based modified Krebs Ringer Bicarbonate buffer for 5mins and sterilizing the filtrate via vacuum filtration. A glucose load of 18mM and 10% ITS was added to the extract. In the absence of adipocytes, the glucose concentration of the CP extract remained unchanged (p=0.5087). Insulin resistance in the chicken adipocytes was confirmed by delayed and limited glucose uptake (maximum 2.9% + 1.62% in 60mins). This was reversed via the addition of the water extract of the CP flowers as concentrations as low as 2.8mg/ml doubled glucose uptake and concentrations as low as 5.6mg/ml increased the rate of glucose uptake to that of insulin sensitive cells. These results suggest that water extract of CP flowers directly modulate glucose uptake into insulin resistant cells at concentrations as low as 2.8mg/ml following a 5mins decoction preparation.