Evaluation of effect of aqueous extract of <i style="">Enicostemma littorale </i>Blume in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to standardize and study the dose-dependent effect of three weeks treatment with hot and cold aqueous extract of <i style="">E. littorale</i> (0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg, po) on streptozotocin (STZ) induced type I diabetic (confirmed by histopathology) rats (45 mg/kg, iv single dose). Treatment of rats with STZ produced cardinal signs of diabetes-mellitus like a significant loss of body weight, polyuria and polydipsia. There was also a significant increase in fasting blood glucose levels and AUC_glucose associated with decrease in insulin levels and AUC_insulinin STZ-diabetic rats. Treatment<i style=""> </i>with<i style=""> E. littorale</i> hot extract (1 and 2 g/kg) significantly reduced the elevated food intake and water intake, glucose and AUC_glucose levels of diabetic rats. There was also a significant increase in serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride in the STZ diabetic rats. Treatment with <i style="">E. littorale </i>hot<i style=""> </i>extract (1 and 2 g/kg) significantly decreased all these elevated levels in diabetic rats. Hot aqueous extract of <i style="">E. littorale</i> at 0.5 g/kg produced a significant decrease in serum glucose and triglycerides. At this doses serum cholesterol and AUC_glucose were not found to be altered significantly.TLC finger-print profiles were established for the aqueous extract using HPTLC. Swertiamarin, which was used as a chemical marker, was found to be one of the major components in the hot extract while it was absent in cold extract. The results suggest that <i style="">E. littorale</i> possesses potential antidiabetic activity and improves lipid profile at a small dose of 0.5 g/kg.