EVALUATION OF HYPOGLYCAEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA LEAF IN ALLOXAN- INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Calotropis procera leaf in alloxan-induced diabetic rats were evaluated in this study. Adult Wistar rats of mean weight 110.0±1.4g were randomised into six groups (A-F), group A (non-diabetic) received orally 0.5ml of distilled water once daily for 10 days, groups B, C, D, E and F were made diabetic with alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight i.p). Groups C, D, E and F also received once daily 0.5ml of metformin (2.5 mg/kg b.w p.o), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight o.p. of the extract respectively. Standard procedures were used to determine blood glucose, body weight, hepatic ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. The results obtained revealed significant elevation (p<0.05) of blood glucose, liver MDA and reduction (p<0.05) of hepatic ascorbic acid content, reduced glutathione level, body weight and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in distilled water- treated diabetic rats. The increased and reduced parameters were reverted back to the range of the non-diabetic control animals in the groups treated with metformin and extract particularly 100mg/kg b.w. dosage.