Hypoglycemic and Antihyperglycemic Effect of Argyreia speciosa Sweet. in Normal and in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activities of methanolic extract of stem of Argyreia speciosa Sweet (A. speciosa) in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and method: The blood glucose levels were measured at 0 h and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 h after the treatment. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in normal, diabetic control, plant extract treated normal and diabetic groups and tolbutamide also treated normal and diabetic groups. Results: The alcoholic extract of A. speciosa showed significant (P<0.05) dose dependent percentage blood glucose reduction in normal (26.42% at 250 mg/kg, 28.50% at 500 mg/kg and 34.25% at 750 mg/kg body weight) and in diabetic rats (24.72% at 250 mg/kg, 31.10% at 500 mg/kg and 40.47% at 750 mg/ kg body weight) respectively at 8 h. Conclusion: The hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of A. speciosa was compared with the reference standard drug tolbutamide (40 mg/kg).