Evaluation of the Antidiabetic Potential of Leaves of Leea rubra Blume in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Leea species are used traditionally to treat diabetes, cancer, rheumatism, and arthritis. This study assessed the antidiabetic potential of Leea rubra leaves (LRL). LRL was extracted with methanol, and its antidiabetic potential was evaluated through hypoglycemic screening in normoglycemic mice, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and antihyperglycemic test in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced (45 mg/kg, 3 days) diabetic mice, using two doses of the LRL extract (40 and 80 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). For the hypoglycemic and OGTT studies, mice received a single oral dose of LRL extract or glibenclamide, with normal control group receiving vehicle only. For the antihyperglycemic studies, diabetic control mice received vehicle, while treatment groups received daily oral doses of LRL extract or glibenclamide for 15 consecutive days. At the end of treatment, blood glucose levels and body weights were measured. Acute toxicity study, conducted according to OECD guideline 425, showed that the extract is safe with ≥2 g/kg. The extract at dose of 80 mg/kg showed significant hypoglycemic activity (p<0.001) and oral glucose tolerance (p<0.0001) compared to normal control. In diabetic mice, both doses of the extract showed statistically significant (p<0.0001) antihyperglycemic activity at the 15th day of treatment in comparison with the diabetic control mice. The extract at 80 mg/kg showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in body weight. These findings confirm the antidiabetic potential of LRL, suggesting that it may serve as a promising candidate for developing novel antidiabetic therapies, and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.