Investigation of Antidiabetic Activity and pharmacokinetics in Herbo-mineral Ayurvedic Formulation ‘Arogyavardhini Gutika in streptozotocin induced wistar rat

Abstract

Aim: Herbs, spices, and minerals are important therapeutic attributes of ayurvedic formulations. The formulation Arogyavardhini Gutika is mentioned in the essential drug list of the Ayurvedic For-mulary of India. It has a claimed safety profile and is used for the treatment of jaundice, leprosy, fever, oedema, obesity, skin disorders, and other hepatic issues. Methods: An in-vitro study was performed by alpha-amylase inhibition using starch, iodine, and dinitrosalicyclic acid. An in-vivo study was performed using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Graded doses of Arogya-vardhini gutika (200 and 500 mg/kg) were administered orally for 14 days to normal and streptozoto-cin-induced type I diabetic rats (45 mg/kg, intravenously). Fasting plasma glucose levels were as-sessed at different time intervals along with lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein levels). The pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax and AUC) of the ayurvedic formulation were also estimated. Result: Arogyavardhini gutika exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of alpha-amylase. The IC50 value for Arogyavardhini gutika was 101.72 g/ml compared with standard acarbose of 79.50 g/ml as estimated by the starch-iodine method. In the DNSA method, Arogyavardhini gutika exhibited an IC50 value of 131.51 g/ml compared with standard acarbose of 82.86 g/ml. In the present research, in-vivo studies indicate that the rise in plasma glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was lowered by arogyavardhini gutika at both doses (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg). However, the effective lowering dose was 500 mg/kg. The Cmax and AUC of the ayurvedic formulation as compared to standard acarbose were low, but the Tmax was found to be similar, i.e., 2 hours. Conclusion: The Ayurvedic formulation Arogyavardhini Gutika showed potential antidiabetic activity in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, it may be used as an alternative therapy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.