Publication

Abstract : This study indicates that Leucas aspera and Pithecellobium bigeminum alcoholic extracts have good antidiabetic activity. Ethanolic extracts of Leucas aspera and Pithecellobium bigeminum at a dose level of 200 mg/kg/p.o exhibited significant anti-hyperglycemic activities in alloxan induced as well as streptazotocin induced hyperglycemic rats. They can also improve the condition of diabetes as indicated by parameters like body weight along with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The extracts of the plant Leucas aspera and Pithecellobium bigeminum were tested for oral hypoglycaemic and anti-diabetic activity, by glucose oral tolerance test, alloxan induced and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats respectively. The extracts of Leucas aspera and Pithecellobium bigeminum have shown significant (P<0.001) increase in glucose tolerance, the maximum effect was given by Leucas aspera extract. In alloxan-induced rats also the maximum percentage reduction in blood glucose levels was found to be in Leucas aspera ethanolic extract. Animals, which received STZ, also showed a significant reduction in body weight, and increase in water and food intake as compared to vehicle control, which is significantly reversed by ethanolic extracts of Leucas aspera and Pithecellobium bigeminum after 21 days of treatment. These results indicate that the plant Leucas aspera and Pithecellobium bigeminum possess significant anti-diabetic activity, but extract of Leucas aspera showed more activity then the extract of Pithecellobium bigeminum.