EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BENINCASA HISPIDA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The number of patients with Diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly both in developed and developing countries around the world. The existing medications especially synthetic drugs often fail to bring back normal glycemic control without complications. Numerous herbal medicines are widely explored as alternative medicine in diabetes. The objective of this work was to evaluate one such herbal extract of Benincasa hispida fruit for its anti-diabetic activity in experimentally induced diabetic rats. The extract at a dose of 200mg/kg/day and 400mg/kg/day was administered to streptozotocin induced diabetic animals for 15 consecutive days. Blood glucose levels, lipid profiles and body weight were measured for the evaluation of its anti-diabetic effect. The results of the study at both low and high dose of extract showed significant (p<0.01) decrease in blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. In addition, both the dose of extract also showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum triglyceride, VLDL levels, and an increase in HDL levels, though not significant. Only high dose of extract and glibenclamide treated group showed significant change in body weight and total cholesterol in the diabetic rats. Our study indicates that methanolic extract of Benincasa hispida has a promising effect in controlling blood glucose levels and also aid in counteracting the derangement of lipid profile, a major concern in diabetes mellitus.