Abstract

ANTIDIABETIC AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF AERIAL PARTS OF AERVA LANATA LINN JUSS ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS.

Rajesh. R*, Chitra. K, Padmaa M. Paarakh

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic and to investigate the histopathological changes in methanol and aqueous extracts of Aerva lanata Linn Juss (MEAL and AEAL) in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat which are widely used in folklore medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Materials and Methods: The Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were orally treated with vehicle (Normal saline), glibenclamide (10 mg/kg), MEAL (200 and 400 mg/kg) and AEAL (200 and 400 mg/ kg) to the respective treatment groups. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was measured at 0 min (immediately after glucose load), 30, 60 and 120 min of glucose administration. Histopathological changes in diabetic rat organs like kidney, liver and pancreas were observed after 15 days of treatment. Results: Treatment with MEAL and AEAL (200 and 400 mg/ kg b.w) and glibenclamide (10 mg/ kg) significantly reduced serum glucose level in OGTT. Histopathological changes are restored near to normal after treatment with higher dose of MEAL and AEAL. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the aerial parts of Aerva lanata Linn Juss possess significant antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats. MEAL at higher dose possesses favourable effect on vital organ such as liver and pancreas, thereby justifying the folklore use.

Keywords: Aerva lanata, Streptozotocin, histopathology, antidiabetic, glibenclamide