Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Alstonia Scholaris Linn Bark in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract:

The objective of the present work is to study the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect of aqueous extract of Alstonia scholaris Linn bark in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in rats. The diabetes was induced by single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg) in citrate buffer, while the normal control group was given the vehicle (citrate buffer) only. After three days of induction of diabetes, the diabetic animals were treated further four weeks with aqueous extract of Alstonia scholaris bark (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (4 mg/kg). Blood glucose estimation was performed every week of the study. At the end of study period, animals were sacrificed for biochemical studies. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed marked hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia at the end of study period. Body weight and liver glycogen levels were reduced and glycosylated haemoglobin levels were significantly increased in diabetic rats. The four week treatment with aqueous extract of Alstonia scholaris bark (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated the alterations in fasting blood glucose, serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol, liver glycogen. glycosylated haemoglobin and body weight in diabetic rats. Thus the present study suggested the potential of Alstonia scholaris bark in diabetes as well as related cardiovascular complications due to its antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties.

KEY WORDS: Streptozotocin, Alstonia scholaris, Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, Antiatherogenic.