Phytochemical Screening and Antihyperglycemic Activity of Methanolic Bougainvillea

spectabilis extract as a Potential Source of Antihyperglycemic Agents: A Clinical Trial

Research Plan

A. Questions/Problemss Being Adressed

The human body develops a hormone from the pancreas called insulin that regulates

the glucose level of the blood and thus, neutralizing excessive sugar. Several

complications can occur if one has a very high sugar intake in his diet, one of which is

hyperglycemia.Hyperglycemia occurs whe the body’s insulin has a too low excretion-

level or it may be enough but not working.It can lead to more complex diseases such as

Diabetes or Ketoacidosis.These diseases can lead to fatigue , respiratory failures or

mortality.

Carbohydrates carry sugar from your dietary intake and is later broken down to

glucose .If the glucose level becomes high and the insulin can’t neutralize it anymore ,

this can lead to diabetes. Because the pancreas can only release a fixed amount of

insulin and it can no longer be naturally altered , the researcher is trying to find ways

that the glucose – level will be lowered before it leads to more complex diseases.The

Anti-hyperglycemic activity of an unkown phytochemical in Bougainvillea spectabilis is

taken into investigation , with a theory that it will prevent hyperglycemia.

 B. Goals/Expected Outcomes/Hypotheses

This study aims to investigate the insulin –like properties of Bougainvillea

spectabilis leaves and flowers using the the pre-test and post-test on the blood of wistar

mice.

Specifically it aims to :

a. Determine the insulin-like agent present in the Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves and

flowers.

b. Determine if there is a significant difference between the blood sugars of the

treated and untreated control groups.

c. Determine which between the Bougainvillea spectabilis flowers or leaves is more

effective.

Null Hypotheses

Based on the research problem presented , the following null hypotheses are
formulated:

1. There is no insulin-like agent present in the Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves and flowers.
2. There is no significant difference between the blood sugars of the treated and untreated
control groups.
3. There is no significant difference between the effects of the leaves and the flowers.

C. Procedure

C.1.1 Collection of Test Subjects

Mature wistar mice were bought in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Philippines.

They were previously fed with commercial food and was identified with normal blood sugar.
 C.1.2 Collection Of Plant Materials and Extraction

Bougainvillea spectabilis plants were obtained from Silos Subdivision, Brgy.Talaban

, Himamaylan City Negros Occidental. Identification of the species was confirmed by The

Department of Agriculture, Himamaylan City.

Healthy and mature plants will be gathered and its leaves and flowers placed separately

in plastic bags. These will be cut into halves using scissors and will be oven-dried for a day.

After when the plant sample becomes pulverized, it will be mixed with methanol and will be

placed in the rotary evaporator. It will be taken under phytochemical analyzation.

C.1.3 Inducing Hyperglycemia Through Oral Intake

Five groups were classified as Group A (Normal mice left untreated),Group B

(Hyperglycemic Mice applied with 5mL/kg of Bougainvillea Leaf Extract),Group C

(Hyperglycemic Mice applied with 10mL/kg Bougainvillea Flower extract),Group D

(Hyperglycemic applied with 5mL/kg Bougainvillea Leaf Extract) and Group E

(Hyperglycemic Mice applied with 10mL/kg of Bougainvillea Leaf Extract) ,Group D (

Hyperglycemic mice left untreated).

Group A was fed with commercial sugar-free feeds while groups B,C, D , and E were

fed with assorted sweets like cookies, sugar etc.

C.1.4 Pre-test

Before receiving their respective treatments , the wistar mice were obtained with blood and the

glucose-level is measured by a digital glucose-monitoring device.

C.1.5 Application of the Extract

All groups except Group E were injected with Bougainvillea Leaf or Flower Extract (

according to their groups). Every mice will be injected with a constant amount of extract which

is 10 mL/ K.

C.1.6 Post-test

After the application of the extract , their blood sugar level will be once again

measured using the same device used in the pre-test.

C.2. Statistical Analysis

T-test for correlated samples will be used to determine if the Extract is really

effective and the ANNOVA Table to test the significance.