IN VIVO ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF TAVERNIERA NUMMULARIA AND IFLOGA SPICATA IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC MICE

Abstract

Synthetic drugs have various side effects as compared to drugs of plant origin. The drugs of plant origin could be used for treating various ailments including diabetics. Various plants extracts could be used for this purpose. In current study, in vivo antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract of Taverniera nummularia and Iflago spicata was investigated in mice. The T. nummularia and I. spicata plants were collected, shade dried and extracted (5 Kg) in methanol.  The Albino mice (male) four weeks old weighing 24±4 g were fasted for 8-12 hours and subjected to hyperglycemia by a single intraperitoneal administration of 150 mg/kg body weight of a freshly prepared 10% alloxan monohydrate. Mice above 200 mg/dL blood glucose levels were considered diabetic and used for further study. Experimental models were randomly divided into seven groups of five animals each. Group I consisted of normal mice orally administered with 0.1 ml physiological saline; Group II consisted of alloxan induced diabetic mice (150mg/Kg) orally administered with 0.1 ml physiological saline; Group III consisted of alloxan induced diabetic mice orally administered with 10 mg glibenclamide. Group 1V and Group V consisted of extract of 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg (T. nummularia). Group VI and Group VII consisted of extract of 150mg/kg and 300mg/kg (I. spicata). The mice treated with alloxan exhibited a significant increase in blood glucose level. The most effective dose of Taverniera nummularia for reducing blood glucose level was 150 mg/kg body weight after 10 and 15 days of alloxan treatment whereas Ifloga spicata was significantly more effective at 300 mg/kg body weight. Treatment with methanolic leaf extract of Taverniera nummularia and Ifloga spicata significantly decreased blood glucose level and resulted in increase in body weight under hyperglycemic conditions. The alloxan treated mice also exhibited a significant increase, total bilirubin, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine, total proteins, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol content as compared with control group (p<0.05). Moreover, increases in the content of bilirubin, ALT, ALP, urea, creatinine, total proteins, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol due to hyperglycemia was normalized by treatment with methanolic extract of both the plant species. Methanolic leaf extract of T. nummularia and I. spicata showed good antidiabetic properties and could be exploited as sources of novel compounds for treatment of diabetes mellitus.