Phytochemical screening and antihyperglycemic activity of Heliotropium indicum whole plant in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

ABSTRACT

Present study was designed to screen phytochemical constituents and antihyperglycemic activity of Heliotropium indicum (HI) in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Heliotropium indicum (Boraginaceae) whole plant is used as traditional medicine for a number of ailments including diabetes. The whole plant was collected, shade dried and extracted with different solvents in the increasing order of polarity. When different solvent extracts of HI each at a dose of 500 mg/kg bw were given to diabetic rats, the methanol and aqueous extracts produced significant (P<0.0001) antidiabetic activity. Phytochemical screening of various solvent extracts of HI whole plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, triterpenes, saponins and tannins. When methanol active fraction of Heliotropium indicum (MAFHI) was checked for its antidiabetic activity, the fraction at dose of 750 mg/kg bw produced marked antihyperglycemic activity. The antihyperglycemic activity was also exhibited during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with the same dosage of MAFHI.