ABSTRACT

Withania coagulans Dunal (fam. Solanaceae) is an indigenous plant used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes and associated complications. However, the mechanistic approach of antihyperglycemic potential of the plant is not scientifically validated. The present study was undertaken to investigate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic potential of aqueous extract of W. coagulans fruits (AEWC) in streptozotocin-induced non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in rats and to focus on its possible mechanism of action. NIDDM was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg kg^-1 i.p.) in male Wistar rats. Animals were divided in five groups (n=6) and treated with AEWC (250 mg kg^-1 and 500 mg kg^-1). Glibenclamide (4 mg kg^-1) was used as a standard drug. At the end of 4 weeks, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum insulin, lipid profile, glucose uptake from rat hemidiaphragms, liver glycogen, serum aspartate transaminase (AST), serum alanine transaminase (ALP) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined. Antioxidant enzymes of liver including superoxide dismutase and catalase were evaluated. Histopathology of pancreas was studied. The results of our study demonstrate antihyperglycemic potential of AEWC because of improvement in the lipid metabolism and by relieving the oxidative stress as well.