STUDY OF ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF RHIZOMES OF HEMIDESMUS INDICUS R. Br. IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

The present study was carried out to evaluate oral hypoglycemic activity of rhizome of Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. in Albino wistar rats. Hemidesmus indicus (Family: Asclepiadaceae) is a commonly known Indian Medicinal Plant. It contains various phytoconstituents like hemidesminine, hemidine, hemidesmin-1 and hemidesmin-2 and other chemical constituents like glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, sterols and volatile oils. Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Streptozotocin induced diabetic albino wistar rat by administrating graded oral doses (200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt.) injected to group 3 and 4 for 90 days. This study also includes histopathological studies of pancreas. Phytochemical screening of methanol rhizome extract of Hemidesmus indicus R.Br.   The presence of alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, tannins and steroid. Metformin (100mg/kg) as standard oral hypoglycemic agent for 12 weeks resulting in significantly reduction in blood glucose. The present research work indicated that Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. methanol extract of rhizome (HIME) have prominent antidiabetic effect at a dose of 400 mg/kg in experimental diabetic rats.. Experimental results showed that the extract is capable of decreasing blood glucose level associated with diabetes. It was concluded that administration of methanol extract of rhizome of Hemidesmus indicus R.Br.(HIME) was effective in decreasing the blood glucose level.