Screening of antidiabetic effect of Naga bhasma in alloxan induced hyperglycemic rats

Abstract

Naga bhasma is traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes; literature does not document its influence on experimentally induced hyperglycemia in animal models. Therefore, it was proposed to investigate the influence of Naga bhasma in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. In the present study, Naga bhasma was subjected to evaluate the anti diabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Graded doses of Naga bhasma (100 and 200mg/kg) were administered orally with suspension of milk using oral feeding needle to control and experimental diabetic rats. Weight variation study and glucose tolerance test was conducted in rats while Antidiabetic effect was evaluated in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. Glibenclamide was used as reference standard. Treatment with Naga bhasma showed no change in blood glucose level in normal rats but normalized the impaired glucose tolerance and alloxan-induced hyperglycemia on long-term treatment. In conclusion, Naga bhasma, on prolong administration exhibits anti hyperglycemic effect.