Antidiabetic effect of Whole Plant Extract and Fractions of Swertia chirayita Buch.-Ham

The ethanol extract, hexane fraction and chloroform fraction of whole plant of Swertia chirayita Buch.-Ham. family Gentinaceae were evaluated for their antidiabetic activity on STZ-NAD(streptozotocin-nicotinamide) induced diabetic albino mice. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of were injected with STZ (100mg/kg, i.p.) freshly diluted in citrate buffer (10 mmol/L, sodium citrate, pH 4.5) after 10min. leading induction of NAD (Nicotinamide) (110mg/kg). All the test samples were administered orally at doses of 150mg/kg and 250mg/kg body weight in diabetic rats. Blood samples were collected by retro-orbital puncture and were analyzed for serum glucose by using glucose oxidase-peroxidase reactive strips and a glucometer. Experimental finding showed significant antidiabetic potential of extract and fractions in terms of reduction of fasting blood glucose level, cholesterol level and triglyceride level at their respective doses in diabetic rats. Observed data was found statistically significant in reduction of extract-treated diabetic rats. The effect of the extract was dose dependent and also it was comparable to that of standard drug metformin (100 ìg/kg; p.o.).

Acknowledgements: Thanks go to the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar (Haryana), for providing the experimental animals to check antidiabetic activity of Swertia chirayita. Partial support for this research from the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India is gratefully acknowledged.

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