PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND SAFETY PROFILE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF POLY-HERBAL EXTRACT IN DIABETIC RATS
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Date
2018-10
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JAU, JUNAGADH
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus describes a metabolic disorder of multiple etiology
characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and
protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.
It is one of refractory diseases identified by Indian Council of Medical Research for
which an alternative medicine is a need for the treatment. Looking to the
pharmacological properties of different plant varieties like Allium cepa, Trigonella
faenum-graecum, Tinospora cordifolia, Gymnema sylvestre, Syzigium cumini and
Momordica charantia, the present study was carried out to evaluate the
pharmacological effects and safety profile following administration of poly-herbal
extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Thirty Srague-Dawley rats were
randomly divided based on body weight in five groups (C1, C2, C3, T1 and T2). Rats
of four groups (C2, C3, T1 and T2) were injected with streptozotocin to induce
diabetes. Rats of group C1, C2, and C3 were kept as normal, diabetic and standard
control, respectively. Rats of group C3 were administrated with glibenclamide (5
mg/kg, PO for 28 days). Rats of group T1 and T2 were treated with mixture of polyherbal
extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively orally for 28 days. After induction
of diabetes, clinical symptoms of diabetes were observed in rats of diabetic control
group. These symptoms were mild to moderate in all other treatment groups compare
to diabetic control group.
Administration of poly-herbal extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced the blood
glucose level in T1 and T2 experimental groups especially at 4th week of experiment.
However the blood glucose level was maximally reduced in glibenclamide treated
group. In oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the blood glucose levels in rats of
different treatment groups were significantly (P<0.05) increased at 30 and 60 minutes
after oral glucose administration at dose of 2 g/kg. The little higher blood glucose
levels in group T1 and T2 indicates inability of poly-herbal extract to reduce the
increased blood glucose level at day 15. This result was supported by no effect of
poly-herbal extract treatment on regulation of blood glucose level up to 3 weeks of
our study period.
In lipid profile, levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol
were non-significantly (P>0.05) increased while levels of HDL-cholesterol were
significantly (P<0.05) lower in diabetic control group compared to other groups. The
mean levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in
rats treated with poly-herbal extract were found comparable to normal control rats. In
hematological parameters, mean values of PCV and TEC in rats of diabetic control
were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to other groups. Whereas, the mean value
of above parameters in rats treated with poly-herbal extract was significantly (P<0.05)
higher than other treatment groups. In biochemical parameters, mean values of ALT,
AST, BUN and creatinine were non-significantly increased while, the mean values of
total protein, albumin, globulin and total bilirubin were found non-significant in all
groups compared to control rats.
In case of antioxidant parameters evaluated from blood, liver, kidney and
pancreas tissue samples, mean values of SOD, catalase and GSH in diabetic control
group were non-significantly (P>0.05) decreased compared to control group.
Whereas, the mean values of SOD, catalase and GSH were non-significantly (P>0.05)
higher in glibenclamide as well as in poly-herbal treated groups compared to diabetic
control group at the end of study period.
Upon gross examination of pancreas, no appreciable gross lesions in all
treatment groups have been observed. Macroscopic examination of liver and kidneys
of experimental rats of diabetic control group shown congestion, paleness and mild to
moderate enlargement. No appreciable macroscopic lesions have been observed in the
spleen, heart and lung of rats in all treatment groups.
The histopathological changes of pancreas of rats of diabetic control group
(C2) revealed varying degree of structural changes as well as degenerative changes,
vascular changes and infiltration of inflammatory cells with loss of normal
architecture of parenchyma and changes in kidney were also observed in rats of
diabetic control group. No appreciable histopathological lesions have been observed
in the liver, spleen, heart and lung of rats in all treatment groups.
In conclusion, administration of poly-herbal extract at the dose rate of 200
mg/kg, PO for 28 days have shown ameliorating effect on glucose, lipid profile and
antioxidant levels and pathological lesions in diabetic rats. Though the findings of this
short term study are encouraging, further detailed investigation is required to
determine the effect of long term administration of poly-herbal extract in diabetic rats.
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VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY