In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-diabetic Activity of Fractions Obtained from the Unexplored Hedychium coronarium Rhizome

Abstract

Despite the availability of numerous medicines for diabetes treatment, compounds derived from plants are gaining popularity due to their lesser side effects. The present investigation was carried out to determine the anti-diabetic activity of a terpenoid-rich fraction obtained from the rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium under in vitro and in vivo. The authors performed in vitro assays to determine glucose uptake in insulin-resistant cell lines. Further, the effect of terpenoid fraction was tested using albino Wistar rats. The streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with different concentrations of most active fraction, and results were compared with the standard drug insulin. At regular intervals, the blood glucose level and the bodyweight of the rats were monitored. The serum, biochemical and histological parameters related to the liver and kidney were also estimated. The fraction at 10 mg/kg.b.wt. has shown a significant reduction in blood glucose level and an increase in bodyweight. This specific concentration increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes, but reduces the activity of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes leading to normal blood glucose level. The normal cellular architecture of liver and kidney tissue was also retained. The significant observations obtained from both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest the potential role of terpene-rich fraction obtained from H. coronarium rhizomes in the treatment of diabetes. It also inferred that the fraction controls diabetes by regulating various parameters associated with diabetes-related complications.