Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Cassia auriculata L. leaves in experimental diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Cassia auriculata L. (Caesalpiniaceae) is widely used from ancient period to treat diabetes mellitus. The leaves of Cassia auriculata are having potential in the development of drug for diabetes due to its antihyperglycemic and lipid-lowering activity.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was to evaluate antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Cassia auriculata leaves (CLEt) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mild diabetic (MD) and severe diabetic (SD) rats.


METHODS
Male Albino rats were rendered diabetic by STZ (45 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). CLEt was orally administered to MD and SD rats at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses for 1 day to determine antihyperglycemic activity. The 400 mg/kg dose was administered daily for 3 weeks to assess glycemic control and hypolipidemic effect.


RESULTS
CLEt showed dose dependant fall in fasting blood glucose (FBG). After 5h of extract administration at 400mg/kg dose, FBG was reduced by 13.9% and 17.4% in MD and SD rats respectively. After 3 weeks treatment, CLEt produced significant reduction in FBG and glycosylated haemoglobin (GHb) in both MD and SD rats. Serum lipid levels were reversed towards normal in extract fed MD and SD rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that CLEt possesses potent antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in both MD and SD rats.
Gupta
Shipra
S
Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi 110095, India.
Sharma
Suman Bala
SB
Bansal
Surendra Kumar
SK
Prabhu
Krishna Madhava
KM
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002366:Cassia; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts