HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF WHOLE PLANT OF LAWSONIA INERMIS (HENNA) IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Diabetes, a global burden, is characterized by fast elevation of blood sugar level. The incidence of diabetes mellitus is rising all over the world, especially in Asia. Many oral hypoglycemic agents, such as biguanides and sulphonylurea are available along with insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus but they have significant side effects and sometimes they are found to be ineffective in chronic diabetic patients. Thus, there is an increasing demand of natural and synthetic products with high antidiabetic potential and lesser side effects. Lawsonia inermis(Henna) is a flowering plant of family Lythracea. Ethanolic extract was investigated for hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect in normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in albino rats by a single intra-peritoneal ingestion of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg of body weight). Ethanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis was administered orally (150, 300 and 500 mg/kg of body weight) for 28 days and changes in body glucose were examined. The level of blood glucose was significantly increased in diabetic rats. Oral administration of ethanolic extract of Lawsonia iInermis to diabetic rats led to significantly decreased level of blood glucose. The effect of dose o 500 mg/kg of body weight was found to be better then 150 and 300 mg/kg of body weight. The effect of ethanolic extract 500 mg/kg of body weight was found to be better then Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg of body weight). These results suggest that the ethanolic extract possess significant antidiabetic effect.