2 research outputs found
In vivo study of anti-diabetic activity of Eremurus himalaicus
Diabetes mellitus is a most common endocrine disorder, affecting more than 300
million people worldwide. For this, therapies developed along the principles of western
medicine (allopathic) are often limited in efficacy, carry the risk of adverse effects, and
are often too costly, especially for the developing world. In order to identify
complementary or alternative approaches to existing medications, we studied the antidiabetic
potential of Eremurus himalaicus-An endemic plant of North-Western
Himalayas. The acute oral toxicity studies of the extracts revealed no toxic effects up to
the levels of 2000 mg/kg b. wt. The Ethyl Acetate, Methanol and Aqueous extracts of
Eremurus himalaicus were screened for the presence of hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic
activity. In this study diabetes was induced by a single IP dose Alloxan monohydrate.
The study was carried out on a 14 day protocol and the blood glucose, SGOT, SGPT and
ALP levels were measured on Day 0, Day 7 and Day 14 of the treatment, along with
histopathological examination of pancreas on day 14. Maximum activity was shown by
the ethyl acetate extract with a percent variation in blood glucose level of 30.78% and
48.78% followed by aqueous extract with a percent variation in blood glucose level of
25.43% and 38.77% at a dose level of 250 mg/kg b. wt. and 500 mg/kg b. wt.
respectively. Glibenclamide was taken as the standard and the results were quite
comparable with it. The histopathological studies also indicated that Eremurus
himalaicus is effective in regeneration of insulin secreting β-cells and thus possesses antihyperglycaemic
activity. The results also showed that Eremurus himalaicus protects
significantly from other physiological aberrations i.e., polydypsia, polyphagia, weight
loss and metabolic aberrations i.e., increase in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, cholesterol and
triglyceride levels caused by diabetes, in a dose dependent manner. The aqueous extract
also showed significant effect in increasing the oral glucose tolerance of rats and it also
showed good hypoglycaemic activity in normoglycaemic rats. The preliminary
phytochemical analysis of the extracts of Eremurus himalaicus revealed the presence of
alkaloids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics and glycosides as the
possible biologically active principles