Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA

R. B. Desiredy, T. J. Mohan Rao*, Ch. N. V. S. Mastanrao, P. Raj Saran, D. Lakshmi Prasanna and Ch. Sunil Kumar

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose concentration (hyperglycemia) caused by insulin deficiency often combined with insulin resistance. Diabetes mellitus refers to the group of diseases that leads to high blood glucose level due to defect in either insulin secretion or insulin action in the body Hyperglycemia occurs because of uncontrolled hepatic glucose output and reduced uptake of glucose by skeletal muscle with reduced glycogen synthesis. When the renal threshold for glucose reabsorption is exceeded, glucose spills over into the urine (Glycosuria) and causes an osmotic diuresis (polyuria), which in turn results in dehydration, thirst and increased drinking of water (polydipsia). The characteristic symptoms of diabetes mellitus are polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia (increased hunger), blurred vision, these symptoms may be absent if the blood sugar is only mildly elevated. Diabetes mellitus is major public health problem in the developed as well as developing countries. It is ranked seventh among the leading causes of death and third when all its fatal complications are taken into accounts.

Keywords: insulin, chronic, hyperglycemia, glycosuria, polyuria, polydipsia, dehydration.