Pharmacological screening evaluation of anti diabetic activity on ethanolic extract of Agave Angustifolia leaves

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic potential of the leaves of Agave angustifolia which has been utilized traditionally to cure diabetes mellitus. An acute toxicity study was done to check the toxicity of Agave angustifolia ethanolic extract and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was carried out in a study population of normoglycemic rats. The biochemical parameters considered were plasma glucose level, degree of glycosylation of hemoglobin, and peripheral consumption of glucose levels. The ethanolic extract had shown significant defence and lowered the blood glucose levels. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, the highest reduction in blood glucose was observed after 2hrs at a dose level of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight. The streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats showed significant reductions in biochemical parameters after treatment with the extract and Glibenclamide (used as standard) as compared to the diabetic controls. The ethanolic extract of Agave angustifolia exhibited antidiabetic activity and its sensitivity in experimentally induced diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. The current results indicated the beneficial effects of the ethanolic extract of Agave angustifolia in both controlling hyperglycemia and the protection of the pancreatic islet cells against oxidative stress in diabetic animals.