Abstract

ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF SALACIA CHINENSIS STEM EXTRACT

Dr. Shahira Banu D. A.*, Dr. Karpagam S. and Dr. Amudha P.

Abstract

Plants have been used for pain relieving and health care needs from earlier times. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of Salacia chinensis specimen stem collected from Karikan location, Karnataka, India. The aqueous stem extract of Salacia chinensis were evaluated for in -vivo anti-diabetic activity in animal rat model. Young adult male albino rats(Sprague-Dawley strain) were used. Experimental diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin. The animals were divided in to five groups each constituting six rats. One group of diabetic rats were treated with standard drug Glibenclamide 5mg/kg/b.w./p.o and other two groups were treated with low and high dose of Salacia chinensis aqueous extract. The above mentioned treatment scheduele was followed for the respective group of animals for 28 days. Blood samples were collected from tail vein in overnight fasted animals on 0th, 7th, 21st and 28th day to estimate blood glucose levels using a commercial glucometer and glucose – oxidase strips. (One touch glucometer). The aqueous stem extract of the Salacia chinensis with low and high dose showed significant, anti-diabetic efficiency in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetics in experimental model rats and the results were Comparable with the standard drug Glibenclamide.

Keywords: Salacia chinensis, Streptozotocin, Glibenclamide, One touch glucometer.