COMPARATIVE HYPOGLYCEAMIC PROPERTIES OF SCOPARIA DULSIS AND LORANTHUS BEGWENSIS AS WELL AS THEIR EFFECTS ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN NORMAL AND ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS
B. Ramya Sree
Department of Biotechnology, Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College, Tirupati
Jyothi M. Joy
Department of Pharmacognosy, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, Tirupati
In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts of Scoparia dulcis and African Mistletoe (Loranthus begwensis) from two host plants (Cocoa and Almond) on blood glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin and cholesterol in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats were studied. Induction of diabetes with alloxan resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in blood glucose and cholesterol. Oral administration of the extracts at a dose of 500mg/kg/day for a period of six days caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in blood glucose, cholesterol and albumin, with a slight increase in total protein. Comparatively, Loranthus begwensis was shown to be more effective than Scoparia dulcis at reducing blood glucose levels, while for cholesterol, it is vice-versa. Scoparia dulcis did not affect total protein levels at the dose administered while Loranthus begwensis (from Cocoa and Almond tree) gradually reduced total protein levels. All extracts lowered albumin levels in diabetic rats and showed no effects in normal rats, with Scoparia dulcis shown to be more effective. Scoparia dulcis caused an increase in plasma globulin levels in the diabetic rats but appeared not to have effect in normal rats, while Cocoa mistletoe lowered globulin levels in normal rats than in diabetic rats and Almond mistletoe appeared to have no effect on globulin levels in normal and diabetic rats. These comparative effects indicate that a possible combination of two or more of these local medicinal plants may be more effective in the management of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia.
4 , 1 , 2014
31 - 40