Gayatri Sarma1, Swarnamoni Das2
BACKGROUND
Since times immemorial, herbal drugs have been used in the treatment of many endocrinal disorders including diabetes mellitus. The alarming rise in the incidence of diabetes mellitus in India as well as the entire world has necessitated the development of safer and efficacious antidiabetic drugs.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hypoglycaemic action of ethanolic extract of leaves of Oxalis corniculata L. on normal and alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The ethanolic extract (500 mg/kg/d) was administered orally for two weeks to alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose was estimated every week for two consecutive weeks along with bodyweight monitoring. The mechanism of action of the test drug was evaluated by estimating the glycogen content in liver, heart and skeletal muscle and also by the action of the test drug on adrenaline-induced hyperglycaemia in the albino rats. Phytochemical analysis of the extract was carried out. Antioxidant activity of the extract was analysed by undertaking serum level estimations of catalase and malondialdehyde in the albino rats.
Statistical Analysis- One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test was used for statistical analysis. The body weights of the rats before and after drug administration were compared using Student’s t-test (paired). Values of p <0.05 were considered significant.
RESULTS
The test drug significantly (p<0.05) reduced the rise in blood glucose induced by alloxan. The test drug produced significant (p<0.05) increase in liver glycogen and also significantly (p<0.05) reduced adrenaline-induced hyperglycaemia. Significant (p<0.05) lowering of normal blood glucose was also found in the test drug group compared to the normal control group. Significant (p<0.05) increase in serum catalase levels and significant (p<0.05) reduction in malondialdehyde levels were seen in the test drug group and the diabetic standard group as compared to the diabetic control group.
CONCLUSION
Thus, the leaves of Oxalis corniculata has significant antidiabetic and hypoglycaemic activity.
