EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF PICRORHIZA SCROPHULARIIFLORA PENNELL IN HIGH FAT FED DIET WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED TYPE II DIABETIC RATS

High energy-intake is a major factor revolved in type 2 diabetes. The objectives of this study is to set up a suitable animal model, which is similar to the human type 2 diabetes, 6 – 8 weeks old Sprague Dawley rats weighing 220 – 250 gm were consumed high fat diet (HFD) of 20% fat, 46% carbohydrate and 20% protein (w/w). Two weeks later the animals were given with intraperitonial injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35mg/kg body weight). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of repeated oral administration of the ethanolic extract of rhizomes of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell at a dose of (250 and 500 mg/kg) on fasting blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin induced type II diabetic rats. After 21 days of repeated oral administration of 500mg of EEPS extract produced a significant decrease on fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL levels (p<0.05)(p0.01) in high fat-STZ induced type II diabetic rats, on the other hand there was significant increase in HDL levels (p<0.05). At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed under euthanasia, liver homogenate was prepared and the homogenised content was analysed for anti-oxidant activity. We conclude that the ethanolic extract of rhizomes of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (500 mg/kg) exhibits anti diabetic potential along with potent lipid lowering effect after repeated oral administration