Hypoglycaemic effects of alcoholic root extract of Borassus flabellifer (Linn.) in normal and diabetic rats

The objective of the study was to investigate the alcoholic (ALEBF) extract of B. flabellifer for their hypoglycaemic effects in normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by single dose administration of alloxan (120 mg/kg, i.p.) or by injecting dexamethasone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days. In normal rats, ALEBF (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) had significantly decreased the blood glucose level in a dose dependent manner after repeated administration for 7 days. In alloxan induced diabetic rats, extract (ALEBF) had decreased blood sugar level and improved glucose tolerance in alloxan induced diabetic rats at the end of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week after test extract treatment. However, the insulin levels of extract treated group did not significantly change after 28 days treatment with the extract. It did not alter the insulin levels. In alloxan model, repeated dose administration of ALEBF had showed significant increase in body weight, prevention of elimination of sugar in urine and reduced the mortality rate induced by alloxan. In dexamethasone induced insulin resistance diabetic rats, repeated administration of ALEBF inhibited the increase in blood glucose level, improved glucose tolerance and reduced the insulin levels as compared dexamethasone induced diabetic rats.