ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC, ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA STEM EXTRACT

Abstract

In the present study, antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of stem extract of Euphorbia hirta were studied in albino mice by administering graded oral doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) of the extract for 21 days. The ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of stems of the E. hirta were orally tested for 21 days in alloxan induced diabetic mice and blood glucose level was measured with glucometer. Administration of extract resulted in significant reduction in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase levels but HDL levels and total proteins were found to be increased after treatments. The antioxidant activity of extracts were also evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including DPPH free radical scavenging activity, superoxide anion radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging and reducing power assay. The various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyl anisole and ascorbic acid. All the extracts showed antioxidant activity in all the tested methods.