Anti-diabetic activity of traditional Indian gold containing preparation: Shadguna Balijarita Makaradhwaja on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
BACKGROUND
Makaradhwaja a gold containing mercurial preparation used for diabetes mellitus in indigenous system of medicine. It is a popular aphrodisiac and rejuvenator traditional medicine. It is prepared by using processed gold, mercury and sulfur in different ratios by applying intermittent heating pattern in Valuka Yantra.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-diabetic effect of Shadguna Balijarita Makaradhwaja (SBM) on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.


METHODS
Diabetes was induced to normal rats by injecting STZ in dose 40 mg/kg. Powdered SBM and dried extract of Tinospora cordifolia were mixed with honey and administered orally for 20 days at dose 2.63 mg/kg and 42.34 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The effects of treatment on body weight changes and blood glucose levels were quantified on day 1, 5, 10, 15 and 21 of the experiments. On the 21(st) day, animals were sacrificed and gross histopathological changes in liver, kidney and pancreas were illustrated. Blood sugar level, glyacated hemoglobin, blood urea, serum cholesterol, serum creatinine, serum triglyceride and serum protein were estimated with standard methods. The study was conducted in the year 2011.


RESULTS
Test drug observed significant decrease (P < 0.001) in glyacated hemoglobin level compared to diabetic control rats. Blood sugar level of test drug group shown a significant decrease (279.11 ± 57.95) compared with diabetic rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates that SBM and dried extract of T. cordifolia with honey significantly reduces the blood glucose level and shows anti-diabetic effect.
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Assistant Director for Post Graduate Studies, SSAM & H, Hirawadi, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
Sanjay
S
Khedekar
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, India.
Galib
G
Rukkudin
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, SDM Centre for Research in Ayurveda & Allied Sciences, SDM College of Ayurveda, Udupi, Karnataka, India.
Basavaiah
B
Ravishankar
Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, India.
Pradeepkumar
P
Prajapati
Anti-diabetic activity; Kupipakwa Rasayana; cinnabar gold; mercury sulfide Shadguna Balijarita Makaradhwaja