World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

STUDY OF WITHANIA COAGULANS EXTRACTS FOR ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY IN EXPERIMENTAL RAT MODELS

S.D. Haseeb Jafferi* and Dr. M. Sunitha

ABSTRACT

The present study defines the systematic evaluation and the role of active constituents by their glycemic potential of extracts of Withania coagulans fruits in order to develop an effective and safe alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus. Experimental diabetes was induced in 30 albino rats with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). The rats were divided into five groups receiving the following treatments orally for 4 weeks: Vehicle, glipizide (2.5 mg/kg), WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg), WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg) plus glipizide (1 mg/kg) and WCDF extract (1000 mg/kg) plus glipizide (2.5 mg/kg). Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were measured every week for 4 weeks. The 4?week treatment with WCDF extract significantly reversed hyperglycemia in streptozotocin?induced diabetes that was comparable to glipizide. When combined with glipizide (2.5 mg/kg), WCDF extract produced a synergistic antihyperglycemic effect. The present study, besides confirming hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activities of W. coagulans, helps in identifying the role of trace minerals like Mg & Ca responsible for antidiabetic potential of this potent indigenous shrub.

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