Bombax ceiba calyces regulate carbohydrate and lipid digesting enzyme's actions, display insulin sensitizing and antioxidant activities in vitro: A nutritional and phytochemicals examination

Calyces of Bombax ceiba (Salmali,) are used as vegetable by traditional Indian folks. However, scientific investigations for this vegetable are not available in literature. This research presents nutritional and phytochemicals composition in raw calyxes' powder and antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, insulin-sensitizing and, antioxidant properties in aqueous methanolic extract of calyx applying various in vitro methods. Calyx powder displayed rich source of macro- and micronutrients with energy value 322 Kcal. /100 g. Aqueous methanol extract of calyces exhibited potent antihyperglycemic activities by inhibiting pancreatic alpha-amylase and intestinal alpha-glucosidase enzymes, antihyperlipidemic by inhibiting pancreatic lipase and insulin sensitizing property by inhibiting PTP1 beta. It was found to be potent scavenger of chemical and physiological free radicals and, presented antioxidant activities by preventing H2O2 induced erythrocytes membrane lipid peroxidation and hemolysis. It also prevented H2O2 induced genomic DNA damage. The calyx powder presented 979 mu g/100 g total antioxidant value. This report presents original analysis of nutritional and phytochemical composition along with biological activities in B. ceiba calyx.