Objective: The objective of the present study was to study the effect of Pithecellobium dulce Benth (P. dulce) leaves in dexamethasone-induced diabetic rats.Methods: The authenticated P. dulce leaves were collected from a local area of Sangli, Maharashtra. The leaves of the plant were extracted with water and ethanol by maceration and soxhelation respectively. Acute toxicity studies of the both extracts were performed using rat and according to OECD 425 guidelines. The dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg was selected for further studies. The albino rats were divided into seven groups with five animals in each group. The diabetes was induced by dexamethasone (10 mg/kg, s. c.) and treated with extract and standard drug for 10 d. Then blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and glycogen level in liver, muscle and kidney were estimated according to standard procedures.Results: The study revealed that P. dulce at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg showed significant (p Ë‚ 0.05) antidiabetic activity. All the extract treated groups showed a significant reduction in blood glucose level on 11th day when compared to diabetic control group. The significant increase in blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol level was observed in the diabetic control group when compared to normal control group. The liver and muscle glycogen level was decreased significantly (p Ë‚ 0.05) in the diabetic control group.Conclusion: It can be concluded that P. dulceaqueous and ethanolic extract at two different doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) possesses antidiabetic and hypolipidemic activity.Â
