Development and Evaluation of Polyherbal Formulation for Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Treatment of diabetes without any adverse effects is a big challenge to the medical fraternity. There is need for alternative drugs with no side effects. The present study is aimed to develop a polyherbal formulation for effective management of diabetes using some of the indigenous plants taking lead from ethnobotanical information. Ajuga parviflora, Saraca asoca, Potentilla fulgens and Aconitum heterophyllum were selected for the development of antidiabetic formulation. Materials and Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening of selected plants were performed. In-vitro antidiabetic activity of plants and standard drug acarbose was evaluated by α-amylase inhibition assay. The polyherbal suspension prepared and its antidiabetic activity was evaluated in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics and tannins in the plants. The prepared formulation was brown, easily pourable from the container and have redispersibility property with optimum particle size distribution. Sedimentation studies showed that the sedimentation volume of a formulation is in-between a range of 1. Administration of polyherbal formulation at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose for 21 days to diabetic rats decreased fasting blood sugar 159 ± 2.81 mg/dL and 147.74 ± 2.03 mg/dL respectively as compared to the diabetic control group 361 ± 3.89 mg/dL. Conclusion: The present findings indicated that developed polyherbal formulation at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg showed significant antihyperglycemic activity (***p<0.001) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat model.