Abstract

EVALUATION OF GLUCOSE LOWERING, HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SEEDS OF ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Sabeeha Shafi* and Nahida Tabassum

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is India’s fastest growing disease nowadays. About 72 million cases are recorded in 2017 and the figure is expected to nearly double by 2025. There is urgent need to find a herbal drug which can lower the complications related to diabetes. Aim: The present study was undertaken to screen the glucose lowering, hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic activities of ethanolic extract of seeds of Eriobotrya japonica in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: First of all, the phytochemical screening of the extract was done. The animals were divided into five groups. The first group was Normal Control group which received only the vehicle. The 2nd group was toxic group which included those animals in which diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. The 3rd group were those animals which received streptozotocin and standard antidiabetic drug-glibenclamide. 4th group was diabetic animals receiving 50 mg/kg b.w dose of seeds of Eriobotrya japonica. 5th group included those diabetic animals which received 100mg/kg b.w of the plant extract. The biochemical parameters that were evaluated were blood glucose levels, liver function tests and lipid profile tests. At the end, the animals were sacrificed and histopathology of pancreas and liver was also done. Results: The ethanolic extract showed presence of various phytochemicals. The results showed significant decrease in blood glucose levels, lipid profile and liver function tests in animals treated with different doses of the plant extracts. Conclusion: The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various bioactive components such as alkaloids, glycosides and flavonoids. It can be assumed that the potential pharmacological activity might be due to the presence of phytochemicals present in the seeds.

Keywords: Eriobotrya japonica seeds, glucose lowering, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic.