Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Efficacy of a Powdered Mixture of Curcuma Longa and Emblica Officinalis in Diabetic Rats in Comparison with Glyburide

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric) and the dried fruits of Emblica officinalis (Indian gooseberry) are used as an adjunct in diabetes treatment in traditional Indian medicine. The 1:1 (w/w) mixture of these two known as nishamalaki was evaluated for its effect on glycemic control and erythrocyte parameters of oxidative stress in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in comparison with the sulfonylurea drug, Glyburide. Methods: One group of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was treated with nishamalaki powder (0.9 g/kg, NT group, n=12) and another group was treated with glyburide (4 mg/kg, GT group, n=12) respectively for 30 days, at the end of which plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin and erythrocyte parameters of oxidative stress were measured in all animals and the results compared with those of the untreated diabetic control (DC, n=12) and normal control (NC, n=12) rats. Results: Nishamalaki treatment achieved significant lowering of plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin in diabetic rats (p 0.05 vs DC for GSH and p<0.05 vs DC for GSH-Px). Conclusion: Antidiabetic efficacy of nishamalaki in diabetic rats is comparable to glyburide and it offers better antioxidant protection than glyburide.