Abstract

IN VIVO STUDY OF ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY AND SAFETY PROFILE ANALYSIS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ROOT OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Fatema-Tuz-Zohra*, Zahirul Islam, Tahmina Sharif Nila, Lia Rose Merry D. Cruze, Rajesh Das and Nadia Afrin

Abstract

Plant is an assorted source of numerous therapeutic compounds which can be used to ameliorate diabetes. Leaves of Withania somnifera (L.) (Family: Cucurbitaceae) is one of the leafy vegetable that is used for this purpose traditionally. It has been used against diabetes for a very long time. Our aims were to identify the hypoglycemic effect of extract of leaves of Withania somnifera as well as to determine its safety profile so that we could utilize the plant material to improve the diabetic condition. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan at a dose of 150mg/Kg bodyweight and ethanolic extract of leaves of Withania somnifera was fed to the rats at a dose of 750mg/kg. We determined blood glucose level, and safety profile by measuring SGOT, SGPT and creatinine level on diabetic and non-diabetic rats before and after administration of the extract. After measuring blood glucose level, it was identified that the hypoglycemic efficacy was comparable to that of metformin (p> 0.05) which was provided at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Safety profile were investigated by checking SGOT, SGPT and creatinine level. It was seen that both metformin and leaf extract of Withania somnifera improved the pathological condition induced by Withania somnifera did not substantially alter the Regular physiological state. It might, hence, be inferred that the extract of leaves of Withania somnifera could be utilized as a considerable alternative therapy to treat diabetes.

Keywords: Withania somnifera (L.), Type 1 Diabetes, alternative therapy, Safety profile, SGOT, SGPT and Creatinine.