In - Vivo anti-diabetic activity of hydro-ethanolic seed extract of Syzygium cumini (L.)

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus continues to be a major health problem in India and across the world. Over centuries, numerous herbal extracts have been used in the Indian traditional medicine to control elevated blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Different aqueous and organic extracts of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels have found widespread use owing to their anti-diabetic activity. A systematic study was undertaken to characterise and evaluate the effects of a hydro-ethanolic seed extract (SCE) of Syzygium cumini in a rodent model of experimental type 2 diabetes mellitus. An established model of diabetes mellitus with a combination of streptozotocin and high fat diet (over 12 weeks) in adult male Wistar albino rats, was used in this study. The onset of diabetes mellitus in rats was confirmed with a fasting blood glucose (FBG) of >200 mg/dl. The diabetic rats were allocated into five experimental groups and treated as follows: with vehicle alone, pioglitazone (10 mg/kg), 100mg/kg or 200mg/kg or 400 mg/kg of SCE, respectively for 21 days. The pre and post treatment levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipids were measured from serum obtained from the various treatment groups. In order to measure insulin resistance, a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR) and for measuring the beta cell function a homeostasis model assessment were employed. The results obtained from these studies were analysed using the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Our study demonstrates the SCE preparation to induce a statistically significant dose-dependent reduction in FBG, serum lipid levels and HOMA IR with a concomitant increase in the serum insulin levels and HOMA B. Wistar rats dosed with SCE at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight demonstrated statistically significant anti-diabetic activity by virtue of improving the pancreatic beta cell function and reduction in insulin resistance.