HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA SEED EXTRACT AND ITS EFFECT ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine metabolic disorders which has a significant impact on the health, quality of life and life expectancy of patients as well as on the health care system. Herbal remedies are convenient for management of type 2 diabetes due to their traditional acceptability and availability, low costs and lesser side effects. In the present study, the ethanolic seed extract (300 and 600 mg/kg) were taken up to evaluate the antidiabetic activity against normal and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of the extracts for 28 days resulted in a significant red uction in blood glucose level. Chronic effects of the extracts on serum biochemistry were also studied and it was found that serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL levels were decreased significantly. But HDL levels and antioxidants enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, Vit-C, Vit-E, GSH) were found to be increased after treatments when compared to standard drug, Glibenclamide. Thus, this study shows that A. aspera have a potent antidiabetic action