Antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of Scoparia dulcis in alloxan induced albino mice

Abstract

Herbal drugs are frequently considered to be less toxic and also free from side effects, than synthetic ones. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate antidiabetic and antioxidant principle of the ethanolic extract of Scoparia dulcis (EESD) for its antidiabetic and antioxidant potential against alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Hypoglycemic effect was evaluated in normal and alloxan induced diabetic mice The oral administration of plant extract at a dose of 100 & 200 mg/kg body weight were given to fasting glucose loaded (200 mg/kg body weight) mice with regard to normal control during 3 hr. study period and in alloxan-induced (150 mg/kg body weight) diabetic mice in comparison with reference drug, Metformin (600μg/kg) during 2 weeks study period. Considerable fall in elevated blood glucose level was observed in the normoglycemic (p<0.05) and alloxan induced diabetic (p<0.001) mice. The extract, at a dose of 100 & 200 mg/kg body weight showed glucose level reduction of 31.87% & 46.97% respectively in alloxaninduced diabetic mice while 50.74% was found for Metformin after 2 weeks. The antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of plant was assessed by DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl, 2- picryl-hydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay at 517 nm and total antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum method at 695 nm.The extract showed petite free radical scavenging capacity (IC50 value 243.82 μg/ml for plant extract and 58.92 μg/ml for Ascorbic acid) and moderate total antioxidant capacity compared with Ascorbic acid. These results demonstrate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of ethanolic extracts of Scoparia dulcis and suggests that the plant may have therapeutic value in diabetes and related complications.