ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of methanolic extract of Glinus oppositifolius leaves. The antioxidant potential was examined by DPPH radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay, determination of total flavonoid content and total antioxidant capacity assay. Antihyperglycemic activity was studied by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in normal mice and in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. In DPPH radical scavenging assay the IC50 value of the extract was found to be greater than 1000 μg/ml (ascorbic acid, IC50 = 14.45 μg/ml) while it was 269 μg/ml in nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay (quercetin IC50 = 15.24 μg/ml). The amount of total flavonoid was 25 .46 mg/g and total antioxidant activity was 79.48 mg/g equivalent to Quercetin and Ascorbic acid respectively. A significant effect (p<0.05) on oral glucose tolerance was noted at the dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight in mice. At the same doses, the extract showed significant (p<0.05) reduction of blood glucose level in Alloxan-induced diabetic mice compared to the standard drug Metformin. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that the methanolic extract of Glinus oppositifolius leaves possess moderate antioxidant activity and significant antihyperglycemic activity.