STUDY OF ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF HIPTAGE BENGHALENSIS (L) KURZ

Objective: To evaluate the a n t i d i a be t i c activity of ethanolic extract of Hiptage benghalensis (l) kurz i n S t r e p t o z o t o c i n induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: The authenticated stem of Hiptage benghalensis (HB) were collected from ABS botanical garden, Salem, Tamil Nadu. The ethanol extract was tested for acute oral toxicity study by using OECD guidelines 423. The starting dose level of Ethanolic extract of HB was 2000 mg /kg. Body weight p.o. and the route of administration was oral. Dose volume was administered 0.1 ml / 100 gms body weight to the rats, which were fasted over night with water ad libitum. Assessment of antidiabetic activity was carried out on albino wistar rats. The animals were segregated into five groups of six animals each. Acute toxicity study revealed the non-toxic nature of the Hipt age benghale nsis extract. There was no mortality or any toxic reactions found at the maximum tested dose level of 2000 mg/kg. The serum glucose levels of normal rats reached a peak at 60 min after the oral administration of glucose (3 g/kg) and gradually decreased to 116.0 mg/dl and 104.2 mg/dl in 2 hours. The pretreatment with Hiptage bengahlensis extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) and Glebinclamide (2.5 mg/kg) elicited decreased serum glucose level significantly (p < 0.001) as compared to the control group. On repeated oral administration of the vehicle, Hiptage benghalensis extract or Glebinclamide, for 21 days, a sustained and significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the serum blood glucose of the diabetic rats was observed at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg in a dose dependent manner as compared to the vehicle treated group. Glebinclamide also showed a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in serum glucose at a dose of 2.5 mg/ kg, p.o. as compared with the vehicle treated group. The results of the present study indicate that Hiptage benghalensis extract (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) was found to reduce the glucose level in glucose loaded animals and in STZ induced diabetic animals. STZ has been shown to induce free radical production and cause tissue injury. The pancreas is especially susceptible to the action of STZ-induced free- radical damage (Hunt, 1990). Induction of diabetes with STZ is associated with a characteristic loss of body weight, which is due to increased muscle wasting and due to loss of tissue proteins. In STZ animals, there was an increase in the value of total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), LDL, VLDL, except HDL and protein values (albumin and total protein), while the extract treated group showed an increased value of HDL, protein values, and reduced VLDL, TC, and TG in a significant manner. This reduced the VLDL, TC, and TG; it may be presumed that the extract is responsible for the enhancement of the transcription of lipoprotein lipase similar to that of insulin, since in the untreated or under treated diabetes animals, the level of triglycerides and cholesterol increases due to increased production of VLDL and unavailability of protein lipase which hydrolyses the triglycerides to VLDL because of insulin deficiency. Results: The acute oral toxicity studies showed that ethanolic extract of HB up to 2000 mg/kg are non toxic and safe. This study shows that ethanolic extract of BH possess significant antidiabetic activity. This antidiabetic activity shown by the HB may be possibly due to the active constituent present in the extract which is responsible for the pharmacological action. Conclusion: The results indicates that ethanolic extract of HB stem possesses significant a n t i d i a b e t i c activity.