HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES

The traditional system of the medicine remains the major source of the health care. It is safe alternative, lesser cost and better tolerance and its complications. The major defense against free radical compounds found in medicinal plants is in the form of natural antioxidants. The present investigation is an attempt to assess the bioactivity of daily oral administration of methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem (T.C.S.) (500mg/kg body weight) for 6weeks in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. A significant decrease in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol (p<0.05), and increase in body weight and protein (p<0.01) were observed in diabetic rats on treatment with T.C.S. methanolic extract when compared to normal. The activity of the hepatic enzyme hexokinase was significantly increased where as glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1, 6- bisphosphatase were significantly decreased (p<0.01) by the oral administration of T.C.S. methanolic extract in diabetic rats when compared to normal. The six weeks treatment of T.C.S. methanolic extract was proved natural antioxidant present in the plant, because the activity of erythrocytes lipid peroxide and catalase (CAT) was significantly (p<0.01) decreased whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GHS- Px) were significantly (p<0.01) increased when compared to diabetic rats.