Study of anti-diabetic effect of a compound medicinal plant prescription in normal and diabetic rabbits

ABSTRACT

Alleged antidiabetic property of a folkloric prescription containing Bergenia ligulata [Pakhan bed], Asteracantha longifolia [Tal Makhana], Cinnamomum cassia [Taj] and Argyria cuneater [Samundar Sokh] has been evaluated in rabbits after its oral administration. The indigenous drug prescription exerted a significant hypoglycaemic effect in both normal and diabetic rabbits. In normal rabbits, oral administration of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight doses of the compound powder caused maximum decrease in blood glucose level at 10 and 24 hour intervals after its administration. In addition the 2 g/kg dose also produced a fall in blood sugar at 4 hours. In the alloxan treated diabetic rabbits, the 2 g/kg dose only could produce a significant decrease in blood glucose levels at 10 and 24 hours. The maximum decrease in blood glucose was observed at 24 hours at all dosage levels in normal as well as diabetic rabbits. It is conceivable that this folk medicine contains some hypoglycaemic principles which can reduce the blood glucose levels of diabetics. The treated rabbits did not show any signs of acute toxicity which encourages the possible use of this compound medicinal plant prescription by diabetic patients