Abstract:
Classia auriculata (Avarai) is one of the medicinal plant which acts as an antidiabetic in diabetic 'patients. Palmyrah jaggery is the natural sweetener and adjuvant which helps to maintain the blood glucose level as it contains low glycemic index. The aim of this study is to formulate a Palmyrah jaggery incorporated with Cassia auriculata plant extracts as a natural sweetener for diabetic patients. The fresh Cassia auriculata plant parts (leaves, flowers, bark, root, and unripen fruit) were collected from three Divisional Secretariat divisions (Kaithady, Karainagar, Nunavil) of Jaffna district, Sri Lanka. Palmyrah sap was collected from Meesalai, Varani areas in Jaffna Sri Lanka. Cassia auriculata plant materials were shade dried and oven dried and ground as a coarse powder. Incorporation of plant extracts were done by Aqueous Extract (AQ) (decoction) method. From the coarse powder 5g from each plant parts were weighed down and decoction (Aqueous Extract) were prepared at 70-80°C. From that 10mL and 30mL (AQ10 and AQ30) of decoction (Aqueous extract) were added separately into the Palmyrah sap. In the determination of invitro a-Amylase inhibitory assay, Antioxidant properties and proximate composition were carried out for different concentration of Cassia auriculata incorporated jaggery and control jaggery. Palmyrah jaggery without Cassia auriculata was used as a control. When comparing the a-Amylase inhibitory action Aqueous extracts (AQ30) exhibited significantly (p<0.05) highest enzyme inhibition than control jaggery (58.44±0.66 %). In the determination of total antioxidant activity Aqueous extract (AQ30) exhibited significantly (p<0.05) highest phenolic content
79.53±1.79 mg gallic acid equivalent/ g dry matter, total flavonoid content of 24.08+0.59 mg catechin equivalent/g dry matter and antioxidant capacity of 184.09±1.93 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g dry matter. Meanwhile proximate composition Cassia auriculata incorporated jaggery and control jaggery. It showed that Cassia auriculata incorporation does not cause any changes in proximate composition. From this study, it can be concluded that Cassia auriculata incorporated jaggery is more beneficial than artificial sweeteners, it act as a natural sweetener and therapeutic for diabetic
patients. Among those Aqueous extract (AQ30) incorporated jaggery can use as a natural sweetener for diabetic patients.
