American Journal of Phytomedicine and Clinical Therapeutics www.ajpct.org Original Article Catharanthus roseus Leaves as an Anti- diabetic and Hypolipidemic Agents in Alloxan- Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of well known significant disorders of the endocrine system. It is characterized by an abnormal increase in the glucose load. Feeding with aqueous extract of leaves of Catharanthus roseus commonly called as periwinkle in alloxan- induced diabetic rats significantly (P< 0.001) decreased blood glucose levels and has brought down TC,LDL,VLDL and TG close to normal level. In control rats, fed with the experimental leaves did not show any hypoglycaemia effect and no significant body weight changes were found indicating that Catharanthus roseus has anti- diabetic activity