The objective of the study is to investigate the
alcoholic [AlcE] and aqueous [AqsE] extracts of
stem bark of
Erythrina indica [Papilionaceae] for hypoglycaemic effects in normal and diabetic
rats. Diabetes was induced in
rats by a
single dose administration of
alloxan [120 mg/kg, i.p.] or by injecting
dexamethasone [10 mg/kg, i.p.] for 10 days. In normal
rats, AlcE and AqsE had significantly decreased the
blood glucose level [BGL] in a
dose dependent manner after repeated
administration for 7 days. In
alloxan-induced diabetic
rats, both the extracts decreased
blood sugar levels with significant improvement in
glucose tolerance and
body weight at the end of 1st, 2nd and 3rd week after test extract
treatment. In case of
dexamethasone induced
insulin resistant diabetic
rats, repeated
administration of AlcE and AqsE inhibited the increase in
blood glucose level and improved
glucose tolerance induced by
dexamethasone as compared to
dexamethasone induced diabetic
rats. These results suggest that both extracts possess hypoglycaemic activity in normal as well as in diabetic
rats. Among AlcE and AqsE, AqsE possesses better hypoglycaemic activity than AlcE in all the models. Preliminary
phytochemical investigations revealed that
alcoholic extracts contain
carbohydrates,
alkaloids,
flavonoids,
saponins,
phytosterols, phenolics and
tannins. Aqueous extract contains
carbohydrates,
alkaloids,
flavonoids,
glycosides,
phytosterols and
triterpenoids. These phytoconstituents may be responsible for the hypoglycaemic activity of the
plant