Investigation and Evaluation of antidiabetic activity of Barringtonia acutangula Garcinia indica and Feronia elephantum fruit extracts in Wistar rats

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study is to explore the antidiabetic activity of three different fruits viz B. acutangula, G. indica and F. elephantum extracts, since these fruits are widely used by the local traditional healers to treat diabetes mellitus in the rural areas. The ripe fruits of G. indica, F. elephantum and B. acutangula were collected. Shade dried powdered material was subjected to successive extraction with chloroform and methanol. Aqueous extract was obtained by maceration process. All the extracts were subjected for determination of physico-chemical parameters and qualitative analysis of phytoconstituents. To assess the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect of the extracts, they were tested both in euglycemic and STZ induced hyperglycemic rats. To assess the acute effect and to find out the lowest hypoglycemic dose of the extracts, the preliminary studies were carried out for each extract of all the fruits in euglycemic and glucose loaded (OGTT) rats. In the next step of acute study, all the three extracts of each fruit were orally administered in a single dose to test their acute effect on blood glucose of STZ induced hyperglycemic rats. Based on the results of acute studies, activity guided fruit extracts were investigated, both in euglycemic and STZ induced hyperglycemic rats in month long chronic study, with respect to their effect on diabetes related parameters viz. serum insulin, HbA1c, hepatic and muscle glycogen content, lipid profile and serum biomarkers. All the extracts of all the fruits used in the present study were well tolerated, and none of the animal died with 2000mg/kg oral dose. Based on the LD50, 100, 200 and 400mg/kg doses of BA, GI and FE fruit extracts were selected and administered in overnight fasted euglycemic rats to assess the acute hypoglycemic activity. None of the extracts showed significant hypoglycemic effect up to 3 h. In OGTT BA-AqE, GI-AqE and Fe-MeOHE in the dose 400 and 800 mg/kg showed dose dependant significant (Plt0.001) improvement, while ther