Effects of Grewia asiatica, Gossiipium herbacium and Gymnema sylvestre on blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels

ABSTRACT

Blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides levels of the normal and alloxan diabetic male rabbits of local strain were determined after oral administration of ground herbal drugs, Gossypium herbacium [cotton seed], Grewia asiatica [Phalsa] and Gymnema sylvestre [gur-mar]. From the data obtained it is concluded that the G. herbacium and G. asiatica produce considerable and significant hypoglycaemic effects in both, normal and diabetic rabbits, but G. sylvestre shows less hypoglycaemic activity in only normal rabbits. Three different doses [20, 10, 5 g/kg] of two G. herbacium and G. asiatica produced almost same reductions in blood glucose. The maximum reductions were at 3, 6 and 12 hours. It means even minimum dose i.e. 5 g/kg was sufficient to bring about normoglycaemic state in experimental rabbits. In case of blood cholesterol and triglycrides, the uniform dose [10 g/kg] of all three medicinal herbs was administered daily orally for a period of 10 days to normal as well as diabetic groups. The maximum lowering in blood cholesterol and triglycerides of normal and diabetic rabbits was caused by G. asiatica, where the reductions were statistically significant. C. herbacium was second and C. sylvestre was third in order of hypocholesterolaemic and hypotriglyceridemic in activity