HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANTIDIABETIC EFFECTS OF WITHANIA COAGULANS FRUIT ETHANOLIC EXTRACT IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study deals with the effect of ethanolic extract of Withania coagulans fruits on normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic models. The maximum reduction of 39.2% in fasting blood glucose at 4 h and 39.9% during oral glucose tolerance test at 2 h was observed with the dose of 750 mg/kg in normal rats, whereas the reduction observed was 47.1 and 42.7% in blood glucose levels of sub- and mild diabetic rats, respectively, at 2 h during oral glucose tolerance test with the same dose. Long-term study of severely diabetic rats showed reduction of 48.5 and 52.6% in fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose levels, respectively, after 30 days of treatment. In addition 75% decrease in urine sugar and 13.08% increase in body weight of treated group was found at the end of the experiment. Trace elements present in the text were identified through laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The Withania coagulans has been shown to possess varied medicinal properties. The aqueous extract of the fruits has been shown to exert hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory and antidiabetic activity. Recently, it has been reported by our research group that the aqueous extract of W. coagulans has hypoglycemic potential. The present communication is an endeavor in the direction of evaluating the in vivo hypoglycemic as well as antidiabetic effect from ethanolic extract W. coagulans fruits in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats so that it can be used as a value added agent for managing diabetes.