Abstracto

Evaluation of antidiabetic activity using methanolic extract of Eichhornia crassipes against streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

M Ganga Raju, Vivek Kumar Tiwari*, Chintala Amala

Objective: Plants not only provide food for man but also provide number of active compounds with potent and varied therapeutical value. The antioxidant activity and quantitative estimation of Eichhornia crassipes from methanolic extract of whole plant are widely used traditional medicine in many parts of the world for the management, control, and/or treatment of a plethora of human ailments, including diabetes mellitus. Methods: The animals used were divided into five groups. Normal control, Disease Control animals induced with streptozotocin 55 mg/kg bw administered i.p, while treated groups received 200 and 400 mg/kg between of methanolic extract of Eichhornia crassipes (MEEC) administered orally and treatment with standard drug glibenclamide 10 mg/kg between administered i.p daily for 21 days. The antioxidant activities of MEEC are on reducing power assay and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay using spectrophotometric methods. Statistical analysis was performed as Mean ± Standard Error Mean (SEM). The IC50 values were also calculated by linear regression analysis. Results: The yield of MEEC was found to be 11.2% w/w. The preliminary phytochemical investigation of MEEC revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, sterols, terpenoids, and tannins. Acute toxicity studies revealed the non-toxic nature of MEEC and LD50 was found to be more than 2000 mg/kg bw. The MEEC inhibited the free radicals in dose dependent manner in reducing power assay and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. It revealed its antioxidant activity. Blood glucose levels and body weights are checked in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Conclusion: It is concluded that the phytochemicals involved in MEEC represent good sources of natural antioxidants. The above results depicted that this plant exhibits significant antidiabetic activity.