Anti Hyperglycemic Activity of Elytraria Acaulis Lind. on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim of the present work is to evaluate the Anti-hyperglycemic activity of Elytraria acaulis Lind. on streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. Elytraria acaulis Lind. belongs to family Acanthaceae which is a small shrub, that grows in shady dry places. The whole plant is used for medicinal purposes. Diabetes was induced in rats by administering streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) intraperitonially. Animals were divided into five groups (n=6) receiving different treatments: Group I: vehicle (Control), Group II: diabetic (control), Groups III and IV: Elytraria acaulis Lind. extract treated (200 and 400 mg/kg, orally respectively) and Group V: standard anti diabetic drug glibenclamide (500 mcg/kg, orally). Blood serum was analyzed for the following biochemical parameters like blood glucose level, oral glucose tolerate test, body weight and liver glycogen & glycated hemoglobin levels. Histopathological study of pancreas, liver and kidney was examined. The Elytraria acaulis Lind. extracts were effective in decreasing blood glucose level, increases oral glucose tolerance test, moderately alteration in body weight and there was a marked reduction in the liver glycogen levels and reduction in glycated hemoglobin levels. Histopathological study, showing improvement with nearly normal islets of langerhans, showing marked improvement with normal architecture with mild hepatocytes degeneration and showing acid significantly inhibited glomerular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis. It is concluded that, the anti-hyperglycemic effect of methanolic extracts of Elytraria acaulis Lind. may be due to both reductions in glucose level and improvement in Histopathological studies. The methanolic extract of Elytraria acaulis Lind. at the dose level of 400 mg/kg produced more significant reduction in glucose level when compare with low dose 200 mg/kg. Hence, it is proved that Elytraria acaulis Lind. is having anti diabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.