Restoration of altered homeostasis in type 2 diabetic animals by an Ayurvedic formulation

Diabetes mellitus is of world wide significance and increasing prevalence. Plant remedies have played an important role in traditional treatment of diabetes. In the present study effect of Limit, an Ayurvedic formulation of nine plant extracts with antidiabetic and antioxidant principles (viz., Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Cassia auriculata, Syzium cumini, Phyllanthus emblica, Melia azadiracta, Trigonella foenum graceum, Coccinia indica, Tinospora cordifolia) were studied on type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Albino rats (streptozotocin, 65mg/kg and nicotinamide 110mg/kg, i.p). Limit (150 and 300mg/kg), administered orally daily for 40 days to diabetic animals. Plasma glucose and body weight, urine volume, urine analysis and other biochemical parameters were monitored on every 10th day over a 40-day period of the experiment. Insulin and glycosylated haemoglobin levels were monitored on 0 day and 40th day. On 40th day, glucose uptake was measured using isolated hemidiaphragms. Glibenclamide (4mg/kg, p.o) is used as a reference standard. Treatment with Limit (150 and 300mg/kg) significantly reduced plasma glucose levels (24.4% & 52.8% respectively) on 40th day of experiment. Reduction in glycosylated haemoglobin (19.1% & 30.5%), triglyceride (2.0&3.6%) and cholesterol (2.9&12.6%) levels were also observed (p<0.05). Significant improvement in insulin (11.8% and 24.3%), body weight, urine volume and biochemical parameters were observed in treated groups compared to diabetic control. Hemidiaphragms treated with Limit showed significant enhancement of glucose uptake (34.6% and 61.4%, p<0.001) compared to diabetic control. Thus Limit restored biochemical parameters & enhanced glucose uptake in diabetic rats.

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