Antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous stem extract of Coscinium fenestratum in non-insulin dependent diabetic rats

Abstract

The antihyperglycemic potential of the aqueous stem extract of Coscinium fenestratum Colebr. (Menispermaceae), a medicinal plant widely used in traditional Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, was evaluated in the streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic model. Graded doses of the aqueous stem extract were administered to normal and experimental diabetic rats for 12 days. In extract-treated diabetic rats, an insulin-independent action with significant reduction in blood glucose, serum triglyceride, and cholesterol levels was observed. In addition, other parameters like change in body weight, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels, glycosylated hemoglobin and liver glycogen levels, assessed in the extract-treated diabetic rats, were compared with diabetic control and normal animals. Significant results were observed in the above parameters thereby justifying the use of the plant in the indigenous system of medicine. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Ltd.