Anti Diabetic Activity of Hydroethanolic Extracts of Mirabilis jalapa Leaves in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Mirabilis jalapa Linn (Nyctaginaceae) is a perennial herb which is widely used in Himalayan region as a traditional treatment for diabetes mellitus. The present study was designed to evaluate the Anti-hyperglycemic effect of hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mirabilis jalapa in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The hydroethanolic leaf extract at the concentration of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight showed significant decrease in the levels of glucose, Urea, Creatinine, serum marker enzymes such as Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Thus, the study clearly shows that the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mirabilis jalapa possess potent anti-diabetic activity. Victor Arokia Doss. D 1 , Sowndarya R 2 and N. Moorthi 3 1 Associate Professor, 1,2,3 Department of Biochemistry, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Submission: 6 September 2015 Accepted: 12 September 2015 Published: 25 September 2015 www.ijppr. humanjournals.com Citation: Victor Arokia Doss. D et al. Ijppr.Human, 2015; Vol. 4 (2): 331-338. 332 INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is characterized by an increased concentration of blood glucose due to disrangement in carbohydrate metabolism and defective secretion of insulin. These metabolic disturbances result in acute and long term complications [1] . It is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with altered metabolism to damaged beta cells of pancreas [2] . Oxidative stress plays an important role in Diabetes mellitus right from its genesis to the development of microvascular complications and the generation of free radicals by hyperglycemia is related to glucose autooxidation [3] . As the treatment of diabetes mellitus using oral hypoglycaemic drugs produces undesirable side effects, people moved on to plant based therapies. So the medicinal plants are used to treat many aliments [4] . Administration of several medicinal plants have restored the activities of certain serum enzymes when compared to normal control groups [5] . The active principles of many plant species are isolated for direct use as drugs, lead compounds or pharmacological agents [6] . Traditional plant medicines or herbal formulations might offer a natural key to unlock diabetic complications [7] . Mirabilis jalapa is a perennial herb, belonging to the family Nyctaginaceae, used widely in Himalayan region as a traditional medicine. In herbal medicine, root of the plant are used as a diuretic, purgative and for vulnerary wound healing purposes. Leaves of whole plant are used as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antispasmodic and antinoceptive agents [8] . Mirabilis jalapa is characterised as a quick growing much-branced herb with erect, angular, distinctly joined stem swollen at the nodes [9] . The current study was designed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic activity of Mirabilis jalapa on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS a) Plant Collection and extraction Mirabilis jalapa was collected from local areas of Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. The plant was identified and certified (BSI/SRC/5/23/2014-15/Tech/1461) by the Taxonomist, Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. The leaves www.ijppr. humanjournals.com Citation: Victor Arokia Doss. D et al. Ijppr.Human, 2015; Vol. 4 (2): 331-338. 333 were dried and ground to a coarse powder. The coarse powder was extracted using hydroethanol. The extracts were condensed to dryness using rotatory evaporator and crystals were obtained. These crystals were weighed, dissolved in distilled water and administrated orally to the experimental animal for the treatment of diabetes. b) Procurement of animals Male Spraque-Dawley rats of 120-150 g weight procured from scientific suppliers were used for the study. The ethical clearance for handling experimental animals was obtained from Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) (260/2014/IAEC). The animals were maintained under standard and laboratory conditions with controlled humidity and temperature where they are allowed to get acclimatized to standard laboratory diet and filtered water. The animal house was well ventilated and maintained in large spacious hygienic cages during the course of the experimental period. c) Induction of diabetes Severe diabetes was induced in overnight fasting rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (52 mg/kg of body weight). After 3 days, glucose levels were measured and the animals showing high blood glucose levels (> 250 mg/dl) were used for the experiments. d) Experimental design The experimental rats were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals in each group. The animals were fasted overnight before the experimental schedule began but allowed to free access of water.