Antidiabetic activity of Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn. in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn. (Poaceae) is traditionally used to treat diabetes mellitus. The grains of Paspalum scrobiculatum are having potential in the development of drug for diabetes due to their antidiabetic activity. Aim of the study: To evaluate the antidiabetic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of grains of Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn. (Poaceae) in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight), were administered orally to male Wistar albino rats. Alloxan monohydrate was used to induce diabetes mellitus. Total phenolic content was estimated in the extracts. The parameters studied included oral glucose tolerance test, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and glycated haemoglobin levels, liver glycogen content, serum lipid profile, and changes in body weights. Results: In oral glucose tolerance test, reduction of fasting blood glucose levels took place from 60 min of extract administration. The extracts produced a dose-dependent fall in fasting blood glucose (FBG). After 15 days of treatment with extracts the maximum reduction in FBG (35.14%) was observed in diabetic rats treated with ethanolic extract 500 mg/kg dose. A significant increase in serum insulin level was observed in the treated rats. Serum lipid levels were reversed towards near normal and a control in the loss of body weight was observed in treated rats as compared to diabetic control. The extract treatment also showed a significant increase in the liver glycogen and a significant decrease in glycated haemoglobin levels. The results demonstrate that Paspalum scrobiculatum possesses significant antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats. Conclusion: The results suggest that Paspalum scrobiculatum has antidiabetic activity, thereby justifying its traditional claim and augmenting it into the present day systems of medicine. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.