Abstract
BackgroundThe available drugs for diabetes, Insulin or Oral hypoglycemic agents have one or more side effects. Search for new antidiabetic drugs with minimal or no side effects from medicinal plants is a challenge according to WHO recommendations. In this aspect, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Piper longum root aqueous extract (PlrAqe) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.MethodsDiabetes was induced in male Wister albino rats by intraperitoneal administration of STZ (50 mg/kg.b.w). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured by glucose-oxidase & peroxidase reactive strips. Serum biochemical parameters such as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were estimated. The activities of liver and kidney functional markers were measured. The statistical analysis of results was carried out using Student t-test and one-way analysis (ANOVA) followed by DMRT.ResultsDuring the short term study the aqueous extract at a dosage of 200 mg/kg.b.w was found to possess significant antidiabetic activity after 6 h of the treatment. The administration of aqueous extract at the same dose for 30 days in STZ induced diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in FBG levels with the corrections of diabetic dyslipidemia compared to untreated diabetic rats. There was a significant decrease in the activities of liver and renal functional markers in diabetic treated rats compared to untreated diabetic rats indicating the protective role of the aqueous extract against liver and kidney damage and its non-toxic property.ConclusionsFrom the above results it is concluded that the plant extract is capable of managing hyperglycemia and complications of diabetes in STZ induced diabetic rats. Hence this plant may be considered as one of the potential sources for the isolation of new oral anti hypoglycemic agent(s).
Highlights
The available drugs for diabetes, Insulin or Oral hypoglycemic agents have one or more side effects
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood due to the impaired secretion of insulin or insulin insensitivity [1]
Of the several indigenous plants used in the local treatment of DM in Rayalaseema region, Piper Longum is one of those plants used by tribes to treat diabetes, digestive disorders, obesity etc
Summary
The available drugs for diabetes, Insulin or Oral hypoglycemic agents have one or more side effects. Search for new antidiabetic drugs with minimal or no side effects from medicinal plants is a challenge according to WHO recommendations. Plants play a major role in the discovery of new therapeutic agents and have received much attention as sources of biologically active substances including antioxidants, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agents [8]. In pursuit of this goal, several medicinal plants are being investigated for possible hypoglycemic activities based on several approaches including ethanobotanical survey. Of the several indigenous plants used in the local treatment of DM in Rayalaseema region, Piper Longum is one of those plants used by tribes to treat diabetes, digestive disorders, obesity etc
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