Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidaemic activities of root extracts of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Abstract

The root extracts of Calotropis procera were investigated for its anti-hyperglycemic effect in Male Wister Albino rats. Diabetes was induced by administration of single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg, I.P) Pet. ether, methanol and aqueous extracts of roots of C. procera at dose of 250 mg/kg, b. wt were administered as a single dose, per day to diabetes rats for the period of 15 days, respectively. After extracts treatment, the blood glucose levels were decreased from 238.6±2.30 to 198.8±1.8 and 236.0±1.58 to 154.0±1.58, 236.0±1.58 to 142.6±2.07 and 238.6±2-64 to 164.4±2.70 mg/dL respectively. The effect of C. procera on blood glucose level was measured in the diabetic rats. Serum lipid profile like total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (PL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured in the diabetic rats. The activities were also compared to that effect produced by a standard anti-diabetic agent, glibenclamide 500µg/kg. The present investigation established pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim that it is an anti-diabetic agent.