ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF AVICENNIA ALBA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED TYPE-2 DIABETIC RATS

The study was initiated to determine the antidaibetic activity of Avicennia alba in Streptozotocin induced Type-2 diabetic rats. The rats were treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of Avicennia alba stem and leaf methanolic extract (MLAA) and compared with the diabetic, normal and standard (glibenclamide) rat groups. The blood glucose levels, glycosylated haemoglobin levels, and body weight of the rats in different groups (n=6) were monitored at 0, 7, 14 21, and 28 days. The histopathological parameters of the liver and pancreas were also analyzed at the end of the study. MLAA (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) extract reduced the blood glucose level from the 21st day itself (193, 141, and 134 mg/dL), and the best reduction was observed by the end of the study with 121.3 and 107.3 mg/dL (200 and 400 mg/kg). The initial decrease in body weight was recovered after the drug treatment, and normalization in body weight was observed on the 4^th week. The glycosylated haemoglobin was found normal in MLAA (200 and 400 mg/kg) treated diabetic rats compared to that of normal untreated rats at the end of the study. Glibenclamide was also equally effective against diabetes. The histology revealed that MLAA 400 mg/kg could protect the cellular architecture of the liver and pancreas. The result from the study confirms ethnopharmacological significance of the crude plant extract in establishing it as a potent anti-diabetic regulator.