Attenuation of Chemically Induced Diabetes in Rabbits
with Herbal Mixture (Citrullus
Colocynthis and Cicer Arietinum)
Nadia Afsheen, Khalil-ur-Rahman and Nazish Jahan*
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
nazishjahanuaf@yahoo.com
Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate
the hypoglycemic potential of herbal mixture (CitrullusColocynthis and Cicer arietinum) in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rabbits.
Hypoglycemic potential was evaluated through curative and preventive modes of
treatments. Blood glucose and lipid level was measured in serum of experimental
rabbits. Significant (P<0.05) increase was
observed in glucose level (466.33+9.07
mg/dl) in diabetic control group after the injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg) as
compared to normal group (103.67±4.51 mg/dl). Treatment of diabetic rabbits with herbal mixtures at
the dose of 150 mg/kg for three weeks significantly decreased (126±9.17 mg/dl)
glucose level of the alloxan induced. The oral administration of
herbal mixture in curative and preventive groups showed significant reduction in plasma glucose, and low
density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol levels, and significant (P<0.05)
increased was observed in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL).
The phytochemical studies revealed the
presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids in herbal mixture. The
results of this study indicated that antidiabetic potential of herbal
mixture (CitrullusColocynthis
and Cicer arietinum) may be due to presence of
bioactive phytochemical constituents. It
can be concluded that herbal mixture has strong hypoglycemic and antilipidemic
potential which is comparable with standard drug.