Anti-diabetic potential of acorus calamus rhizome in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

Acprus calamus [Araceae] rhizomes are widely recommended to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes mellitus in traditional system of medicine in India and other Asian countries. In the present study, the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of the plant rhizome was evaluated by using in vivo methods in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats with an objective to delineate its possible mechanism of action. After the oral administration of dichloromethane [DCM] or aqueous fraction of methanol extract of Acorus calamus rhizome at the doses of 1.5 mg/kg [b.w.], blood glucose levels were monitored at specific time intervals. Tolbutamide was used as a reference drug. The results indicated that both the fractions demonstrate significant antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities conferring its folkioric use