title: Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Rhododendron arboreum Smith flowers in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and its role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore and identify the most potent antihyperglycemic fraction from the ethanol extract of Rhododendron arboreum (R. arboreum) flowers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were treated with all four fractions of R. arboreum flowers for short term and with fraction 3 for long term study. On completion of the treatment, a range of indicators were tested including fasting blood glucose, plasma protein, haemoglobin A1C, insulin secretion, body weight, blood lipid profile and carbohydrate metabolism regulating enzymes of liver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In short term study, the fraction 3 (Active fraction) produced a significant (P<0.000 1) reduction (73.6%) in blood glucose level at a dose of 200 mg/kg after the treatment in the diabetic rats. Administration of active fraction (200 and 400 mg/kg) once daily for 30 d in streptozotocin diabetic rats resulted in a significant (P<0.001 to P<0.000 1) fall in blood glucose level, hemoglobin A1C, serum urea and creatinine with significant but a increase in insulin level similar to standard drug glybenclamide. Further, the active fraction showed antihyperlipidemic activity as evidenced by significant (P<0.001 to P<0.000 1) decreases in serum serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low density cholesterol levels coupled together with elevation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The active fraction of R. arboreum flowers decreases streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia by promoting insulin secretion and glycolysis and by decreasing gluconeogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Goel Institute of Pharmacy & Sciences, Faizabad Road (Near Indira Canal), Lucknow-227105, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amresh
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Ch V
authors.initials: ChV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Anil Pratap
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D029793:Rhododendron / Q000737:chemistry*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antihyperglycemic; Antihyperlipidemic; Ethanol; Fraction; Rhododendron arboreum; Streptozotocin