DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED ANIMAL MODEL

Abstract

Vitex trifolia L, Vitex parviflora and Terminalia chebula are well-known plants available throughout India and are commonly used for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes mellitus. The antidiabetic activity of the individual plant parts is well known, but the synergistic or combined effects are unclear. The concept of polyherbalism has been highlighted in Sharangdhar Samhita, an Ayurvedic literature dating back to 1300 AD. Polyherbal formulations enhance the therapeutic action and reduce the concentrations of single herbs, thereby reducing adverse events. The aim of the present study is to formulate a polyherbal formulation and evaluate its antidiabetic potential in animals. The polyherbal formulation was formulated using the hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves of V. trifolia, L. parviflora and T. chebula in the ratio of 1:1:1. The quality of the finished product was evaluated as per the World Health Organization's guidelines for the quality control of herbal materials. The quality testing parameters of the polyherbal formulation were within the limits. The acute toxicity studies of the polyherbal formulation did not show any toxic symptoms in doses up to 2000 mg/kg over 14 days. The oral antidiabetic activity of the all extract and PHF (100 and 200mg/kg) was screened against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in rats and glibenclamide was used (500 mcg/kg body weight) as standard drug. The investigational drug was administered for 21 consecutive days, and the effect of the extract and polyherbal formulation on blood glucose levels was studied at regular intervals. At the end of the study, the blood samples were collected from all the animals for biochemical estimation. Polyherbal formulation showed significant antidiabetic activity at 100 and 200mg/kg, respectively and this effect was comparable with that of glibenclamide. The antidiabetic activity of polyherbal formulation is supported by biochemical analysis. The formulation has emerged as potential combination which can challenge the synthetic drug.