Hypoglycemic Effect of Phansomba (Phellinus Badius Berk ex. Cooke) G. Cunn. on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Phansomba (Phellinus badius Berk. ex Cooke) G. Cunn., family Hymenochetaceae, is a folk medicine used by local practitioners for various types of ailments. The hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of fruit body and mycelial biomass were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The diabetic rats were orally administered with aqueous extracts of Phellinus badius, basidiocarp, and mycelial biomass at the doses of 800 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg each. The blood glucose level changed at 6-hr interval at a dose of 1000 mg/kg in case of basidiocarp and mycelial biomass. The food intake of diabetic control was increased by 33.6% as compared to normal control, and the body weight gain was significantly decreased at a dose of 1000 mg/kg of both the samples. The blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats were significantly reduced after fourteen days. The plasma triglyceride and cholesterol level also significantly decreased as compared to diabetic rats (positive control). There was a considerable increase in the weight of body organs on administration of aqueous extract of Phansomba sample as compared to the normal rats (negative control). It also demonstrated a marked reduction in the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The study reveals the potential of Phansomba samples as hypoglycemic agents with its aqueous extracts from fruit body and mycelial biomass.