EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS ON THE NON-ENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS IN COMPARISON WITH GLIBENCLAMIDE

Objective: To investigate the effects of ethanolic extracts of leaf and fruit of Trichosanthes dioica and leaf of Clitoria ternatea were studied on the altered non-enzymatic antioxidant system such as reduced glutathione (GSH), Vitamin E, C and A in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Methods: Male adult Wistar albino rats divided into eleven groups of six rats each were assigned to non-diabetic and diabetic groups (Group I to XI). Diabetes was induced in Albino rats by single intraperitoneal administration of STZ (60 mg/kg body weight), on confirming diabetes after 48 h of injection. Group I and II were kept as non-diabetic and diabetic control. The other diabetic groups (Group III to Group X) were treated with both individual and combined ethanolic extracts of T. dioica and C. ternatea at the doses of 200, and 400 mg/kg of body weight were administrated orally at a single dose per day for 28 consecutive days. Group XI was treated with Glibenclamide (600 μg/kg body weight), a standard oral hypoglycemic drug used as a reference drug for comparison. After completion of experimental period serum, liver and kidney were used for estimating GSH, plasma, and liver for estimating Vitamin E, C and A, and pancreas, liver and kidney were used for histopathological changes in the diabetic rats. Results: A significant increase in GSH, Vitamin E, C and A levels were observed in diabetic rats treated with ethanolic extracts of T. dioica (leaf and fruit) and C. ternatea (leaf) compared to diabetic control rats. Histopathological studies demonstrated the reduction in the pancreas, liver and kidney damage and confirmed the biochemical findings. Conclusion: These results suggest that T. dioica and C. ternatea are beneficial in the control of diabetes by the noticeable antioxidant property.