Antidiabetic activity of roots of Boerhaevia diffusa against streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic activity potential of Boerhavia diffusa roots against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. STZ is the most common method for chemically inducing diabetes in animal models widely. Boerhavia diffusa is used in the indigenous system of medicine as an antioxidant, pain reliever and hepatoprotective agent. How ever there are fewer or no reports available in literature on its hydroalcoholic root extract being effective in the treatment of diabetes. The blood glucose was determined on 0, 7^th, 14^th and 21^st day after STZ administration. An increase in serum glucose was observed after the oral administration of streptozotocin when compared to normal group.

Glibenclamide was used as the standard drug. Different doses (200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) of the hydroalcoholic root extract of the plant treated groups have shown a significant decrease in the blood sugar levels when compared to the control group. This decrease in blood sugar was observed from 7^th day after continuous administration of extract. The hydroalcoholic root extract of Boerhaavia diffusa was found to reduce the blood glucose levels as well as its effect on the serum total cholesterol, lipid profile, low density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins, high density lipoproteins was also measured in both test and control groups. Reduced levels of total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and HDL cholesterol in diabetic rats was reported. This resulted in the indication that the plant extract possesses antidiabetic activity.