Hypoglycaemic and Antihyperglycaemic Effect of Syzygium cumini Bark in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

摘要

The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic effect of Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) bark in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male albino Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg kg~(-1) body weight). An aqueous extract of S. cumini bark (SBEt) was administered orally (75,150 and 300 mg kg"' body weight) for 45 days and changes in blood glucose, urine sugar, food and fluid intakes and body weight were examined in diabetic rats. Glibenclamide was used as a standard reference drug. The levels of blood glucose and urine sugar were increased significantly in diabetic rats. Oral administration of SBEt to diabetic rats led to significantly decreased levels of blood glucose and urine sugar. The effect exerted by the extract at a dose of 300 mg kg~(-1) body weight was greater than that of doses 75 and 150 mg kg~(-1) body weight. The daily food and fluid intakes were significantly increased while the body weights were significantly reduced in diabetic rats when compared to normal rats. Treatment with SBEt significantly restored the above physiological parameters to near normal in streptozotocin diabetic rats. During oral glucose tolerance test (OGGT), long-term administration of SBEt was able to significantly decrease the blood glucose concentrations at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min when compared to the OGTT pattern of diabetic rats. The effect of SBEt at 300 mg kg~(-1) body weight was better than glibenclamide (600 ig kg~(-1) body weight). These results suggest that SBEt possesses a significant antidiabetic effect by attenuating the above biochemical and physiological alterations in streptozotocin diabetes. Further, our findings revealed the possible therapeutic value of 5. cumini bark for the better control, management and prevention of diabetes mellitus progression.