ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF HEARTWOOD OF TECOMELLA UNDULATA SEEM. AND HISTOLOGY OF ORGANS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-NICOTINAMIDE INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Objective: The main objective of the present work was to analyze the therapeutic potential of various fractions of ethanolic extract of Tecomella undulata Seem. heartwood in streptozotocin – nicotinamide (STZ-NA) induced diabetes in experimental rats. Materials and methods: Diabetes was induced in the experimental rats by injecting nicotinamide and streptozotocin intraperitonealy at an interval of 15 minutes. The diabetic rats were then treated with standard drug; metformin and different fractions of 70% ethanolic extract of heartwood of Tecomella undulata for the 21 days. The animals were estimated for the different biochemical parameters which included liver function test, kidney function test and total lipid profile of experimental animals. Histopathological studies were also carried out on the liver and pancreas tissue sections. Results: All the fractions exhibited a reduced blood glucose level but the best results were revealed by acetone fraction as is indicated by statistical data. All fractions depicted a positive approach to normalize the altered biochemical parameters of kidney, liver and heart organs of diabetic animals. Thus it indicats that all the fractions of heartwood of Tecomella undulata can protect β cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of liver from STZ-NA induced damage which is further confirmed through histopathological studies. Conclusion: The present study shows the potential hypoglycemic effect of the various fraction of ethanolic extract of Tecomella undulata and metformin in STZ-NA induced diabetes which may be due to the systematic effect on hepatocytic and pancreatic mechanism.