Anti-diabetic effect of Semecarpus anacardium Linn nut milk extract in a high fat diet STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rat model

Abstract

The anti-diabetic effect of the drug Semecarpus anacardium Linn nut milk extract (SA) was studied in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were divided into seven groups of six animals each. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by feeding them with a high fat diet for 2 weeks followed by intraperitoneal injection of 35 mg/kg/body weight (b. wt.) of streptozotocin. The diabetic rats were treated with the drug at four different concentrations of 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg/b. wt. respectively and were compared with the diabetic rats treated with the standard drug metformin for 30 days. Diabetic rats showed an increase in blood glucose levels, increased levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and impaired glucose tolerance and an increase in lipid profile. The blood glucose level and glycosylated haemoglobin levels were lowered in the diabetic rats treated with the drug SA, and also, an improvement in glucose tolerance test was observed. The drug also effectively lowered the lipid profile level. The effect of the drug was found to be effective at the dosage of 200 mg/kg/b. wt. showing an increase in insulin levels. This suggests the potential anti-diabetic effect of the drug.