ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF MEMECYLON TERMINALE DALZ EXTRACTS IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Memecylon terminale Dalz is an endemic plant that is exclusively present in the Western Ghat region of Southern India. The traditional healers in this region have been using this plant extract to cure disorders such as dysentery, diabetes, diarrhea, piles, haemoptysis, menorrhagia and shown to possess carminative stomachic astringent property. The present study was carried out to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of different extracts of M. terminale Dalz in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Chloroform and methanolic extracts of M. terminale Dalz leaves were screened for hypoglycemic activity in alloxan induced diabetes in Swiss albino rats. The lipid profile was also examined in diabetic rats administered with these extracts. The efficacy of these extracts was also analyzed for their ability to inhibit α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Of the two extracts, chloroform extract (500 mg/kg body weight) showed dose dependent decrease in blood glucose level which was comparable to that of control after 24 h of extract administration. On the other hand, chloroform extract also showed good lipid profile that was comparable with standard drug. As compared to chloroform extract, the methanolic extract showed good inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme activity.  The results of our study indicate that M. terminale Dalz plant possesses significant protective effects against alloxan induced diabetes. However, detailed structure function analysis of active ingredients of the extract is needed to be validated.