Abstract

ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF SOLANUM XANTHOCARPUM SCHRAD. AND WENDL. IN STZ-NICOTINAMIDE INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Anitha Mary Mathews*, Christina AJM

ABSTRACT

Solanum xanthocarpum is a plant that belongs to solanaceae family with many therapeutic applications in traditional systems of medicine especially Ayurveda.The ability of the plant to promote glucose uptake was studied by the communicating author in an in vitro model using L6 skeletal muscle cell lines.The aerial parts and fruit of the plant were found to augment uptake of glucose by GLUT-4,which was indicative of increased insulin sensitivity or insulin-like activity or both. The present study was aimed at investigating the in-vivo antidiabetic potential of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad.&Wendl, and to elucidate its probable mechanism of action.The ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts and fruit of the plant,at the dose of 400mg/kg produced significant reduction in elevated blood glucose level by the 28th day of STZ-induced diabetes. Intraperitoneal administration of nicotinamide in the dose of 230mg/kg prior to the administration of STZ produced partial destruction of beta cells that resembled type 2 diabetes.Administration of test extracts produced a corresponding increase in insulin level and reduction in HbA1c ,CK and LDH values.The animals gained weight during the course of treatment.

Keywords: aerial parts, fruit, Solanum xanthocarpum,STZ –NAD.