title: Anti-diabetic activity of Picrorrhiza kurroa extract.
abstract: An alcoholic extract of Picrorrhiza kurroa was found to lower blood glucose in basal conditions and after a heavy glucose load in normal rats. Maximum reduction in serum glucose was observed after 2 h at a dose level of 75 mg extract/kg of body weight. P. kurroa extract was also found to reduce the increase of blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (43% at 75 mg/kg body weight and 60% at 150 mg/kg body weight). Chronic administration of the extract significantly reduced the blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetic rats for several days (10 days). The extract was also found to reduce the increased blood urea nitrogen and serum lipid peroxides in alloxan-induced diabetic animals and to inhibit the body weight reduction and leukopenia induced by alloxan administration. These results indicate that P. kurroa extracts are able to ameliorate biochemical damages induced by alloxan in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuttan
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000496:Alloxan; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000496:Alloxan