Antidiabetic and Anti-neuropathic Activities of Hydroalcoholic Polyherbal Extract in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high glucose levels and abnormal protein and fat metabolism. Several medicinal plants have been used in the management of diabetes. The present study was conducted to assess the antihyperglycemic and anti-neuropathic activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of a polyherbal mixture (PHM) in diabetic-induced Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar ratswith nicotinamide-streptozotocin. A hydroalcoholic extract of a PHM containing Ocimumtenuiflorum, syzygiumcumini, and Aegelmarmelos was prepared and administered to the diabetic rats. To test for anti-diabetic activity, normal doses of metformin (200 mg/kg), PHM-I (200 mg/kg), PHM-II (400 mg/kg), and PHM-III (800 mg/kg) were administered.To evaluate the neuropathic action of the hydroalcoholicPHM, Pregabalin as a standard dose (50 mg/kg), PHM-I (200 mg/kg), and PHM-II (800 mg/kg) were administered. After giving the medication to the animals for 21 days, neuropathic activity was measured by the animals' pain tolerance and pain frequency using Eddy's hot plate, hot water immersion, and cold allodynia methods. The antihyperglycemic and analgesic effects of PHM were validated by the histopathological analysis. The PHM-III(800 mg/kg) dosage for the treatment of diabetes was more effective. When compared to PHM-II (800 mg/kg), PHM-I (200 mg/kg) showed more analgesic activity in rats. When compared to disease control, PHM-II (800 mg/kg) was the statistically significant (p<0.001) dosebetween the two. Therefore, the PHM possesses antidiabetic and anti-neuropathic activitiesand can be a therapeutic potential for managing diabetes.