EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF PASSIFLORA INSARNATA LINN. IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES IN RATS

The worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has risen dramatically over the past two decades; based on current trends, more than 360 million individuals will be having diabetes by year 2030. The present study was designed to investigate the hypoglycemic of effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of Passiflora insarnata linn. in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rat. The pharmacological investigation suggested that the ethanolic extract of the leaves was beneficial in controlling the blood glucose levels, improves the lipid metabolism and prevents diabetic complications from lipid peroxidation in experimental diabetic rats. From this study, it can be concluded that the ethanolic extract of the plant exhibited protective and ameliorative effects against streptozotocin induced pancreatic cytotoxicity and severe hyperglycaemia by enhancing the peripheral utilization of glucose, correcting the impaired liver glycolysis and limiting gluconeogenic formation and also repairing and rejuvenating the residual beta cell population. These effects may be due to the presence of  phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and other phytochemical constituents, which could act synergistically or independently in modulating the activities of glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes.