title: Antidiabetic effects of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Convolvulaceae) is traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus by tribal people of north-east India and Bangladesh.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. in normal, glucose loaded and Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methanol (MECR) and aqueous (AECR) extracts (200 and 400mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to normal and diabetic rats with Metformin and solvent control as comparison groups. Long term effects like FBG, OGTT, lipid profile, HbA1c, body weight, histopathology of major organs, etc. were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MECR and AECR did not have hypoglycemic effects in normal rats. Both AECR and MECR (400mg/kg) treatments showed significant reduction in blood glucose during OGTT in diabetic rats at 3h. Single oral administration of methanol and aqueous extracts (400mg/kg) to diabetic rats significantly reduced (p<0.05) blood glucose level to 61.90% and 55.39% respectively as compared to the Metformin group i.e. 68.32% at the end of 8h. MECR (400mg/kg body weight for 30 days to diabetic rats) showed a significant decrease (p<0.01) of blood glucose level to 60.00% as compared to other groups. The treatment also resulted an improvement in body weights, decreased HbA1c and restored lipid profile. Histopathological injury was not observed, rather repair of beta cells was seen in extract treated diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methanolic extract of C. reflexa has significant antidiabetic effects and improves metabolic alterations thereby justifying its traditional folkloric claims.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Diptirani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Durga Madhab
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, IMS & SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Electronic address: maharana.ld@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laxmidhar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maharana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D034182:Cuscuta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013311:Streptozocin; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008687:Metformin; D000432:Methanol; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D013311:Streptozocin; D014867:Water
keywords: Antidiabetic; Blood glucose level; Convolvulaceae; Cuscuta reflexa; Glycated hemoglobin; Streptozotocin