Glycaemic control by the aqueous bark extract of Spondias pinnata against alloxan induced diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: Medicinal plant extracts have been used as a popular medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus since ages. The increasing trends in the use of plants as medicines globally, necessitate scientific investigations on novel antihyperglycaemic agents from medicinal plant extracts. The single administration of aqueous bark extract of Spondias pinnata (SPAq, Sinh. Emberella) showed remarkable efficacy in diabetic rats. Thus the present study aims to investigate the effect of repeated administration of SPAq on glycaemic control in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methodology: Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=6). Group 1 and 2 served as untreated normoglycaemic and alloxan induced diabetic rats (150 mg/kg i.p.) respectively. Group 3 and 4 were diabetic rats treated with the SPAq (1.00 g/kg) and glibenclamide (0.5mg/kg) for 30 days respectively. Group 5 was normoglycaemic rats treated with the same dose ofSPAq. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed and body weights of animals were recorded at weekly intervals. Glycosylated haemoglobin percentage (%HbA1c) was estimated on the 30 1h day. Results: The SPAq and glibenclamide improved glucose tolerance by 41 % and 53% (p<0.05) respectively in diabetic rats. The SPAq and glibenclamide reduced HbA1c to 6.85±0.02% and 6.31±0.04% respectively (p<0.05). The decrease in HbA1c in SPAq treated normoglycaemic rats was found to be statistically non -significant (p<0.05). In contrast the administration of SPAq to diabetic rats restored the bodyweights of animals compared to untreated diabetic rats. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Spondias pinnata improved the glycaemic control in alloxan