Abstract

ANTIDIABETIC, ANTIDYSLIPIDYMIC AND ANTIOXIDATIVE POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT OF STEVIA REBAUDIANA (BERTONI) ON ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC MICE

Sunanda Singh*and Veena Garg

ABSTRACT

We have investigated the possible role of root extract of Stevia rebaudiana in managing the oxidative stress and hyperglycemia caused by alloxan induction in Swiss albino mice. Material and Methods: Four groups of mice were studied. Group NC consisted of control animals. Rest three were made diabetic with a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate. Group DR was treated for 21 days with root extract of S. rebaudiana. After completion of the experimental duration, mice were sacrificed; blood and organs were further used for detecting biochemical and histopathological changes. Result: Treatment with root extract of S. rebaudiana for 21 days significantly lowered blood glucose level, elevated hepatic glycogen content and maintained body weight and lipid-profile parameters towards near normal range. Declined activity of antioxidant enzymes and concentration of non-enzymatic antioxidants were also normalized, thereby reducing the oxidative damage in the tissues of diabetic animals and hence indicating the antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of the extract. Conclusion: We conclude that the root extract of S. rebaudiana have significant antihyperglycemic and antioxidative potential thus it can be used in the management of diabetes and oxidative stress caused by the disease.

Keywords: Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), antihyperglycemic, antioxidative