Study of Antidiabetic Properties of Berberis asiatica and Withania somnifera in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Wistar Rats

Background and aim Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. Although current antidiabetic drugs are highly effective, they are associated with various adverse drug reactions, including lifethreatening hypoglycemia, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal intolerance, in addition to being costly. This animal-based experimental study aims to develop a herbal alternative or adjuvant to current antidiabetic drugs using Berberis asiatica ( BA ) and Withania somnifera ( WS ), which could potentially have fewer adverse drug reactions and reduce the required dose of existing antidiabetic medications. Material and methods Seventy-eight adult albino Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 250 g were used for the study. Diabete smellitus (DM) was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injections of streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg) 15 minutes after nicotinamide (NIC) (110 mg/kg) administration. As the diabetes was confirmed (blood glucose level >250 mg/dL), rats were divided into 13 different groups mentioned. The standard antidiabetic drugs(metformin [MET] and glimepiride [GLI]) and polyherbal combinations (PHC) (BA + WS) were administeredorally, individually (WS and BA), and in combination (BA + WS). Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis using the tail vein prick method. The study is based on a total of 13 groups, six rats in each group. Groups 1 and 2 (normal control [NC] anddiabetic control [DC]) received distilled water at a dose of 10 mL/kg orally for 28 days. Groups 3-5 (BA 250,500, and 1000) received dried ethanolic root extract of BA at a dose of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg orally,respectively, for 28 days. Groups 6-8 (WS 250, 500, and 1000) received dried ethanolic root extract of WS at adose of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg orally, respectively, for 28 days. Groups 9-11 (PHC 250, 500, and 1000)received dried ethanolic root extract of BA + WS at a dose of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg orally, respectively,for 28 days. Groups 12 and 13 (MET and GLI) received standard drugs MET and GLI at a dose of 250 and 10mg/kg orally, respectively, for 28 days. Results The dried ethanolic root extract of medicinal herbal plants BA and WS and their combination exhibited significant antidiabetic efficacy. PHC has been shown to have a superior antidiabetic effect than individuals. PHC 500 and 1000 showed blood glucose levels similar to those of the GLI group (P < 0.05). Additionally, PHC 1000 showed blood glucose levels similar to those of the MET group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Our results indicate that both BA and WS possess hypoglycemic activity, and their combination also has a synergistic antidiabetic effect compared to the individual extract. These findings are promising in developing new safe and cost-effective herbal combinations as alternatives or additives to currently used synthetic antidiabetic drugs.