<i>In Vitro</i> Antioxidant and Anti-Diabetic Evaluation of a Polyherbal Formulation

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major metabolic disorder causing morbidity and mortality worldwide. The prominent adverse effects of allopathic drugs are the principal reason for an escalating number of people seeking alternative and complementary-based therapies that may have less or no adverse effects. The poly-herbal formulation Vilva Kudineer Choornam (VKC) is a combination of Siddha medicinal plants for the treatment of diabetes. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antidiabetic efficacy of poly-herbal formulation by invitro assays. The Aqueous Extract of Formulation (AEF) and Ethanol Extract of Formulation (EEF) were used for the assay. In the present research work, the antioxidant potential of polyherbal formulation (VKC) was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging and Nitric oxide radical scavenging assay. The IC<sub>50</sub> value of AEF was 333.02 ?g/ml and EEF was 86.37 ?g/ml in DPPH radical scavenging assay whereas, in nitric oxide scavenging assay, the IC<sub>50</sub> of AEF and EEF were found to be 8.61 ?g/ml and 447.77 ?g/ml, respectively. The VKC was also screened for in-vitro antidiabetic potential by alpha-amylase inhibition assay and it was shown to have significant percentage inhibition of alpha-amylase. The IC<sub>50</sub> of EEF and AEF were found to be 868.84 ?g/ ml and 247.09 ?g/ml, respectively. The findings suggest that the polyherbal formulation (VKC) has significant antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. Further in vitro studies using cell lines and other enzymes may be carried out to fully establish the anti-diabetic potential of the polyherbal formulation.