Hypoglycemic activity of Bauhinia candicans in diabetic induced rabbits O. Fuentes a,b, * , P. Arancibia-Avila b , J. Alarco ´n b a Laboratorio de Fisiologı ´a, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad, del Bı ´o-Bı ´o, Campus Chilla ´n, Avenida Andre ´s Bello s/n, P.O. Box 447, Chilla ´n, Chile b Departamento de Ciencias Ba ´sicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad, del Bı ´o-Bı ´o, Campus Chilla ´n, Avenida Andre ´s Bello s/n, P.O. Box 447, Chilla ´n, Chile Received 10 September 2003; accepted 18 March 2004 Available online 5 June 2004 Abstract The effect of different fractions of methanolic extract of Bauhinia candicans leaves were investigated on experimentally-induced diabetic rabbits. The crude extracts (8 mg/kg) showed hypoglycemic activity along with a reduced urinary glucose excretion. Among the fractions, the highest activity was exhibited by the butanolic fraction (fraction III). Moreover, fraction III reduced plasma glucose level also in normal, as well as, glucose loaded rabbits. These results suggest that B. candicans increases the peripheral metabolism of glucose. D 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V. Keywords: Bauhinia candicans; Hypoglycemic activity; Diabetes 1. Introduction Some Bauhinia spp. have been used for chemical and pharmacological studies, allowing to isolate and to identify different types of compounds such as lactones, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins and quinones [1]. Among the species studied we can mention B. manca, B. uruguayensis, B. purpura, B. splendens and B. candicans. B. candicans is a small tree acclimatized in Chile growing from 5 to 7 m in height with large divided leaves resembling cow’s hoof, characteristically distinctive 0367-326X/$ - see front matter D 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2004.03.013 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +56-42-203158; fax: +56-42-203046. E-mail address: ofuentes@ubiobio.cl (O. Fuentes). www.elsevier.com/locate/fitote Fitoterapia 75 (2004) 527 – 532