Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Solanum trilobatum Linn. on Alloxan -Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Solanum trilobatum is reported to have a wide range of biological activities such as antidiabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, antimitotic, antioxidant, antitumours and is used for treatment of asthma, to arrest blood vomiting and several kinds of leprosy. In the present study, we report the effect of ethanol extracts of S.trilobatum leaf on free radical scavenging activity, in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase were measured in liver homogenate, and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT), Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT), cholesterol and glucose were measured in blood serum. Oral administration of single dose of alloxan monohydrate (1mg/kg), caused significant increases in Lipid Peroxidation (LPO), SGOT, SGPT and glucose levels, while Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) levels were significantly decreased. Further, the administration of ethanol extracts of S.trilobatum leaf to alloxan induced diabetic rats, at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg orally for 10 days, led to a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation, SGPT, SGOT and cholesterol levels. Consequently, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels were significantly increased. Glibenclamide was used as a positive control (10 mg/kg). It was observed that the effect of ethanol extracts of S.trilobatum on cholesterol, superoxide dismutase, SGPT, SGOT levels, were compared to that of those produced by the positive control. The activities of SOD and CAT were found to be increased in extract treated diabetic rats in selected tissues. The increased level of lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats also was found to be reverted back, to near normal state in extract treated groups. Thus, it may be concluded that the ethanol extract of S.trilobatu, may produce its hypoglycemic effect through antioxidant defense mechanism.