Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic Effect of Varanadi Kwath Tablet in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rat Model

The results of the present study indicate that Varanadi kwath Tablet was found to be an effective against alloxan induced diabetes and also in preventing the metabolic alterations induced as a consequence of diabetes. Insulin deficiency leads to various metabolic aberrations in the animals namely increased blood glucose, increased levels of cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides (TG), decreased HDL, increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Blood glucose levels in diabetic induced rats remained under normal levels when Varanadi kwath Tablet was administered daily, suggesting that constituents present in the crude extract may offer protection to alloxan toxicity to a certain extent (67, 68). Similar results were obtained in our investigations as well. Jahromi and Ray (1993) reported a reduction of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels without affecting the HDL-cholesterol level after oral administration of ethyl acetate extract of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium in hyperlipidaemic rats. The methanol and water extract of the heartwood when tested for antihepatotoxic activity on albino rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride, showed a reduction of elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase (69). Elevation of plasma lipid concentration in diabetes is well documented. In alloxan-diabetic rats, the rise in blood glucose level is accompanied by an increase in the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It is well known that the level of glycaemic control is the major determinant of serum triglyceride level (70). Investigations demonstrated that near normalization of the blood glucose level resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of plasma cholesterol, free fatty acids and plasma apoprotein levels. Similar findings were also reported with the seeds of Momordica charantia (5), seeds of Jambolan and fruits of Momordica cymbalaria (71,72). However, significant control of serum lipids in the VK treated diabetic rats was observed. VK listed glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids and steroidal compounds as active ingredients in hypoglycemic compound. Polyphenols such as flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant potential because of their lower redox potential. (73) The qualitative phytochemical screening showed the presence of sterols, flavonoids and glycosides in the tested compound. Hence the antidiabetic and antioxidant activity observed in VK may be attributed to the presence of these principles. This is in agreement with the findings of Panwala et al. (36) who reported that the hydroalcoholic extract of Syzygium cumini (commonly known as Jamun, is a well-known plant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus) was found to reduce the formation of lipid peroxides in hyperlipidaemic rats. (74,75) In diabetic animals a change in the serum enzymes is directly related to changes in the metabolism in which these enzymes are involved. Many workers have reported an increase in transaminase activities in the liver and serum of diabetic animals (76). The increased levels of transaminases which are active in the absence of insulin because of increased availability of amino acids in diabetes are responsible for the increased gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis observed in diabetes. Study stated that the toluene subfraction significantly decreased ASAT and ALAT enzyme activities. Hence the improvements noticed in the levels of the enzymes studied, namely GOT and GPT are consequences of an improvement in the carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. The restoration of GOT and GPT after treatment also indicates a revival of insulin secretion. Elevation of ALP has been reported in diabetic rats and rabbits (77). The increase in ALP was significantly reversed by the toluene fraction. The elevated levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly decreased after treatment with phenformin, a biguanide. Also, with phenformin treatment, there was an increase in body weight over the initial body weight of the diabetic animals. An increase in the body weight of diabetic rats may be due to an improvement in insulin secretion and glycaemic control. Similar results were previously reported with other plants, such as Ficus bengalensis and Trigonella foenum graecum well known for their antidiabetic activity. These results support our present findings. VK significantly control the lipids and transaminase enzymes in alloxan treated rats. This corroborates earlier reports of Porte and Halter (78) and the toluene fraction attenuated. The antihyperglycaemic activity of the herb under study could be due to an insulinogenic activity by stimulating insulin secretion from the remnant or regenerated beta cells. Similar insulinogenic activity of seeds of Momordica charantia, fruits of Momordica cymbalaria, leaves of Vinca rosea, and leaves of Gymnema sylvestrae have been reported (79). From this study, VK is inferred that the tested fraction has beneficial effects on blood glucose levels as well as on hyperlipidaemia and other metabolic aberrations. CONCLUSION: Administration of Varanadi Kwath Tablet reversed the increased blood glucose, cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and decreased HDL level. Also control the increased ALP, ALT and AST enzymes in alloxan rats and was also found to scavenge oxygen free radicals in vivo and this activity may be due to possible inhibition of free radicals and subsequent inhibition of tissue damage induced by alloxan. We conclude that, present study Varanadi Kwath (VK) produced glucose lowering activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats