EFFECT OF CASSIA AURICULATA SEED EXTRACTS ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND LIPIDS IN WISTAR RATS.

The present study was conducted since there is paucity of information regarding hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects of different extracts of Cassia auriculata seeds as well as their interaction with clinically used oral hypoglycaemic agent. In the present study, male adult Wistar rats were rendered hyperglycaemic by administering 60mg/kg of alloxan (in 0.3 ml) through tail vein. The hyperglycaemic rats were divided in to saline (control) and glibenclamide-0.9 mg/kg (standard) and other six treatment groups (n=6 in each) to receive different extracts of Cassia auriculata viz., alcohol extract in the dose of 200mg/kg (ACA-2), petroleum ether extract 200mg/kg(PCA-2), water extract 200mg/kg(WCA-2) individually as well as combination treatments of these extracts (in the lower dose of 100mg/kg) ie.,ACA-1 or PCA-1 or WCA-1 with subhypoglycaemic dose of glibenclamide. The different treatments were administered once daily orally at 8:00 am for 45 days. After 24 hrs of last dose, under ether anaesthesia 2-3 ml of cardiac blood was collected to estimate glucose and lipid profile using standard kits. Results of the present study clearly established the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic activity of Cassia auriculata seed extracts in hyperglycaemic animals. The extract treated groups viz., ACA-2 and PCA-2 exceed the hypoglycaemic activity of glibenclamide treated group. All the treatment groups produced favourable changes in the lipid profile more than that of glibenclamide treated group. Concurrent administration of lower dose of Cassia auriculata extracts with glibenclamide favourably modified the serum parameters associated with diabetes. Clinical feasibility of the beneficial effect of Cassia auriculata seed extracts in diabetes has to be confirmed