ANTI-OXIDANT STUDY OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS ROOTS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Objective: The main objective is to investigate anti-oxidant activity of ethanoic and aqueous extract of Citrullus colocynthis (EECC &AECC) in streptozotocin –induced diabetic rats. Methods: Acute toxicity study of EECC and AECC was carried out in rats to determine its dose for further study. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed to evaluate EECC and AECC on elevated blood glucose levels. Diabetes was induced in rats by administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (45mg/kg) and it was confirmed after 48hrs after induction. Both the extracts of Citrullus colocynthis was given intraperitoneally to the diabetic rats up to 15 days and blood glucose levels were estimated after 10 days. On the 15^th day of the experiment, rats were sacrificed for the anti-oxidant estimation in liver homogenate. Results: Acute toxicity of EECC and AECC did not show toxicity and death up to dose of 2000mg/kg. Both the extracts at 200 and 300mg/kg doses significantly (p<0.001) reduced blood glucose levels in OGTT. Both the doses of EECC and AECC treatment significantly (p<0.001 & p<0.001) showed free radical scavenging action with DPPH, NO and Reducing power assay in-vitro and in-vivo when compared with STZ treated rats were found to be very close to the standard Ascorbic acid. Conclusion: From the above results it was concluded that the plant extract is having the ability of managing hyperglycemia and complications of diabetes in STZ induced diabetic rats. Hence the plant may be considered as one of the source for the isolation of new oral anti-hypoglycemic agent.