Comparative study of garlic species [A Ilium sativum and A Ilium porrum] on glucose uptake in diabetic rats

ABSTRACT

Herbal medicines are recommended for management of diabetes in many parts of the world. Garlic is one such herb extensively used for antidiabetic activity, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, hypoglycaemic etc. Safety and efficacy of the herbal drugs used in the treatment of diabetes need to be evaluated. Rat everted intestinal sac model was used to study garlic species Allium sativum and AIlium porrum for their role in glucose transport. In this study test substances A. sativum and A. porrum at 2.5 and 5.0 mg/ml and standard [insulin, 40 micro M/ml] were added to mucosal solution. Glucose concentrations were determined before and after a period of incubation. The preliminary phytochemical investigations were performed. Rat everted intestinal sac experiment is mainly used to indicate glucose uptake. The mucosal disappearance, serosal appearance and gut wall content of A. porrum at a dose of 2.5 mg/ml [65.12%, 40.81%, 22.34%], dose of 5.0 mg/ml [64.56%, 43.56%, 21.0%]. Similarly A. sativum at a dose of 2.5 mg/ml [67.74%, 42.05%, 25.68%], dose of 5.0 mg/ml [65.97%, 43.11%, 22.86%], Insulin at a dose of 40 |nm/ml [60.36%, 37.84%, 22.52%] respectively. Thus A. sativum and A. porrum showed significant reduction in all the 3 parameters observed. Further A. porrum showed more potent action