PRELIMINARY ANTI-DIABETIC STUDIES ON AQUEOUS ROOT EXTRACT OF PSEUDARTHRIA VISCIDA LINN

摘要

Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight and Arnott. (Leguminosae) commonly known as Salaparani and its roots are commonly used by the tribes of Madhya Pradesh. A preliminary study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of the aqueous root extract by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), normoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide induced non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. Graded doses (250 and 500mg/kg) of the aqueous root extract suspended in gum acacia were administered to normal and experimental diabetic rats. Effect on glucose tolerance test showed a significant fall in the blood glucose level of extract treated animals after 1 hr, indicating its hypoglyaemic activity. Continuous blood glucose lowering activity was observed till 4 hr of administration in normoglycaemic and diabetic rats. The results were compared with standard drug glibenclamide