AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF CYPERUS SQUARROSUS (CYPERACEAE) PLANT EXTRACTS ON DIABETIC CARDIOMYOPATHY AGAINST STREPTOZOTOCININDUCED DIABETES IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: Cyperus squarrosus, belongs to the family Cyperaceae, has been claimed to possess antidiabetic activity in the ethnomedicinal literature in India. Therefore, the present study was to investigate the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C. squarrosus (EECS) on diabetes and its cardiovascular complications with streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Methods: Wister albino rats of either sex were made diabetic with streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, i.v.). Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) was taken as standard drug. Treatment of aqueous and EECS (aqueous extract of C. squarrosus and EECS) was given in the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, p.o for 8 weeks and biochemical (serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]) parameters were recorded. Results: Streptozotocin-treated group produced significant increased levels of serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and all these changes were prevented by the treatment with aqueous and EECS in both doses. Conclusion: As compare with ethanolic extract treated group, aqueous extract treated group exhibits significant (p<0.001) effect on CK-MB and LDH levels. Our result suggests that aqueous and EECS prevents the streptozotocin-induced metabolic abnormalities as well as cardiovascular complications