Hepatoprotective effects of crude extracts of pongamia pinnata in alloxan induced diabetic albino wistar rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders accompanied with many metabolic syndromes. Use of herbal medicines has always been an option to treat a great number of diseases such as cancer diabetes and its complications. The aim of the present study is to explore the hepatoprotective effects of Pongamia pinnata stem extracts in alloxan induced diabetic wistar albino rats. Thirty six Swiss wistar albino male rats were divided in 6 groups (6 per group weighing 250-300 g) such as NC, DC, TD1, TD2, SD and VC. Diabetes was induced in rats by injecting intraperitoneally alloxan monohydrate at a dose of 150 mg kg -1 b.wt. in five groups except Normal Control (NC). Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Pongamia pinnata stem at a dose of 28 mg kg -1 b.wt. were given orally in diabetic rats, daily for three months (TD1, TD2). In diabetic rats (DC), the serum glucose, SGOT, SGPT and bilirubin levels were significantly increased whereas total protein and albumin levels were decreased in comparison with the control group. Significantly recovery was observed in all the parameters with aqueous (TD1) and alcoholic (TD2) extract of Pongamia pinnata. Histopathological observations were also in coordination with these results. The results are obtained after analyzing the observations of three such separate experiments. There was no change in Vehicle Control (VC) rats. The results suggested that crude extracts of Pongamia pinnata stem possesses antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Alcoholic extract proved to be more effective than aqueous extract.