ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC BARK EXTRACT OF MANILKARA HEXANDRA (ROXB) IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: Manilkara hexandra Roxb. (Family: Sapotaceae) is a common evergreen tree and commercial crop in India which is widely used as antibacterial, diuretic, anthelmintic, antioxidant and antidiabetic in folklore medicine in India. The objective of the study was to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of Manilkara hexandra bark in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in experimental animals.Methods: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was induced in overnight fasted rats by an intra-peritoneal injection (i. p.) of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. 50 % ethanolic extract of M. hexandra, 250 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg body weight was administered orally to the rats once daily for 21 d. The blood glucose level was assessed by a glucometer. The serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were determined by using diagnostic kits.Results: A significant reduction (p<0.001) in the blood glucose level was observed in diabetic animals treated with the different doses of the extract, compared to untreated diabetic rats. The drug posses good hypolipidemic effect by normalizing the lipid parameters. This also evidenced by histopathological examination of isolated organs viz. pancreas and kidney showing reduced the injuries induced by streptozotocin.Conclusion: The result of this study thus shows that 50 % of the ethanolic extract at different doses possesses significant antidiabetic activity and potent hypolipidemic potential in diabetic conditions.Keywords: Antidiabetic, Bark extract, Histopathology, Manilkara hexandra, Streptozotoci