Evaluation of antidiabetic and antianxiety potential of Kalanchoe pinnata root standardized extracts

Abstract

Background Kalanchoe pinnata is an important medicinal plant and possesses numerous medicinal values including antidiabetic potential. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the antidiabetic and antianxiety potential of K. pinnata root standardized extracts. Materials and methods Standardization of the extracts included the physicochemical and fingerprinting analysis of the extracts. Pharmacological studies included acute toxicity, antianxiety, the oral glucose tolerance test, and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced antidiabetic screening of standardized extracts. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were monitored in normal and diabetic rats at regular intervals of 0, 7, 14, and 21 days of the experiment. The antianxiety potential of ethyl acetate and ethanol extract at the doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg was evaluated using an elevated plus maze model. Results Ethyl acetate extract at 300 mg/kg was found to have significant antianxiety potential, whereas ethanol extract at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg failed to show a statistically significant antianxiety effect. Alcohol and aqueous extracts were found to show a statistically significant (P<0.001) decrease in FBG at 400 mg/kg, whereas both extracts at low doses failed to show a significant decrease in FBG on the oral glucose tolerance test. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with the alcohol and aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) led to a statistically significant (P<0.001) reduction in FBG of the diabetic rats after the 21st day of treatment. Conclusion The present study re-established the plant as an effective antidiabetic and antianxiety armament in fighting with the challenge of diabetes mellitus, expected to cover most of Europe and Asia in coming 20 years.