Herbal Products: A Novel Approach for Diabetic Patients

Abstract

A research work of herbal medicine viz. Neem leaf extract (Azadirachta indica), nayantara leaf extract (Catharanthus roseus) and bitter melon fruit (Momordica charantia) juice with the patent drug gliclazide (Comprid®, Square Pharmaceuticals Bangladesh Ltd.) were studied on blood glucose level, hematological parameters and on body weight in rats. Twenty-five apparently healthy adult rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups namely A, B, C, D and E. One group (group A) was kept as control. The rest four groups (B, C, D and E) of rats were treated with gliclazide (Comprid®) @ 4.5 mg/kg bd. wt./day, neem leaf extract (NLE) @ 500 mg/kg bd. wt/day, nayantara leave extract (NtLE) @ 500mg/kg bd. wt./day and bitter melon fruit juice @ 500 mg/kg b. wt./day respectively for 14 consecutive days. Blood glucose levels were significantly (P<0.01) reduced in all treated four groups of rats (39.78-44.31%) in comparison to their pre-treatment values. Total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocyte count (DLC) were not changed significantly in any treated group (B, C, D & E). Eosinophil and monocytes and hemoglobin contents were decreased significantly (P<0.01) in all groups. Among the herbal drugs used in the study bitter melon fruit juice was more effective (7.45%) in increasing the body weight in comparison with other herbal preparations i.e. NtLE (7.4%) and NLE (4.86%). From the present study, it may be further revealed that although the patent drug gliclazide was found to be highly effective, as blood glucose lowering agent, but the efficacy of three different combined form of herbal preparations was also seemed to be encouraging.