Blood Glucose Lowering Potential of Chinese Violet (Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson) in Normal and Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Objective: The present study was undertaken to investigate the glucose reducing level by Asystasia gangetica flowers with various doses (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg bw) in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: Acute and sub-acute toxicity of A. gangetica was evaluated in rats with various doses and its and serum parameters were analyzed. Diabetes was induced by giving streptozotocin (45 mg/kg bw) to the rats and after conformation of diabetes, A. gangetica flower ethanol extract (AGFEE) was administrated to the normal and diabetic rats for a period of 14 days. Body weight and glucose levels were determined after 7 th and 14 th day of the study. Glucose tolerance test was also carried out after administration of glucose at the rate of 2 g/kg bw till 14 th day. Results: The LD 50 of extract found to be higher than 2000 mg/kg bw and the extract did not show any significant changes in serum parameters. In blood glucose reducing activity the three doses showed significant lowering glucose levels, when compared with each doses at the dose of 250 mg/kg bw the AGFEE showed maximum activity. In diabetic control rats there was a significant elevation in blood glucose levels and reduction in body weight was produced and continued till the end of the study. No alterations were found in control and extract alone treated rats. Results showed AGFEE had exhibited significant hypoglycemic (glucose lowering) activity. Conclusion: Present in vivo model indicating that the plant extract contain active principle compound for the management of hyperglycemia.