Evaluation of Antidiabetic Potential of Ipomoea turpethum R.Br. and Ipomoea batata L. (Convolvulaceae) in Alloxan Induced Diabetes in Rats: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT In order to explore the intra-genera variation for biological activity, the antidiabetic activity of Ipomoea turpethum and Ipomoea batata was carried out in alloxan induced diabetes in rats. Dried powdered material of both plants was defatted with petroleum ether 60-80 °C and cold macerated with hydro-ethanol for seven days. These extracts were screened for antidiabetic activity using alloxan induced diabetes in rats. Diabetes was induced by intra-peritoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg) on days 1 and 12 and blood glucose levels were estimated on 15 th day. Hydro-ethanol extracts of both the plants at the dose of 500 mg/kg, oral, significantly lowered the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats treated for 7 days. The antidiabetic activity of these plants was insignificantly different from each other. This suggests that, different species from same genera may have similar chemical constituents and pharmacological activity