ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDAEMIC ACTIVITY OF NELUMBO NUCIFERA GAERTN ETHANOL SEED EXTRACT IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of the study was to investigate the effect of ethanol seed extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (Nymphaeaceae) as antihyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in wistar albino rats by administration of streptozotocin (single intraperitoneal dose of 60 mg/kg B. W). The ethanol extract of N. nucifera seed at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight was administrated at a single dose per day to STZ induced diabetic rats for a period of 42 d. The different pharmacological parameters were evaluated. The effect of ethanol seed extract of N. nucifera on insulin, blood glucose, urea, creatinine, HbA1C, serum protein, albumin, globulin, serum enzymes, serum lipid profiles, lipid peroxides (LPO) and other antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in the diabetic rats.Results: In the acute toxicity study ethanol seed extract of Nelumbo nucifera were non-toxic at 2000 mg/kg in rats. The ethanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera seed showed significant reduction in blood glucose (p<0.05), serum enzymes (SGPT, SGOT, ALP) (p<0.05), lipid parameters (TC, TG, VLDL, LDL) (p<0.05) except HDL and significantly increased insulin (p<0.05), HDL (p<0.05), GPx, GSH, SOD and CAT (p<0.05) at the dose of 400 mg/kg when compared with the diabetic-induced control.Conclusion: The present study suggested that the NNSE has significant (p<0.05) antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity in STZ induced diabetic rats. These results clearly indicate that Nelumbo nucifera is effective against free radical-mediated diseases, thus replacing the synthetic ones.