Anti-hyperglycemic activity of ethanol leaf extract of marsilea quadrifolia linn

ABSTRACT

TheplantMarsileaquadrifoliaLinn. [Marsileaceae] has been screened for its hypoglycemic activity in both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic male albino mice. In the present study, the vacuum dried ethanol extract of leaves of Marsilea quadrifolia showed significant hypoglycemic activity. The mice were randomly divided into two main groups. The Group I animals were injected with alloxan mono-hydrate at a dose level of 150mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. Group II animals were used as normal [nondiabetic]. The diabetic and nondiabetic animals were divided into four sub groups. Mice in first group received 1% CMC, second group received a suspension of the ethanol extract at a dose level of 500 mg/kg and third group was administered with Glibenclamide. The mean glucose levels of mice at various time intervals were observed. The ethanolic extract of M. quadrifolia is endowed with significant anti-hyperglycemic activity thereby justifying its use in the indigenous system of the medicine