THE MECHANISM OF HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTION OF HYDROALCHOLIC EXTRACT OF CASSIA FISTULA Linn. IN RATS

The present study was performed to identify the mechanism of action of hydroalcholic extract of Cassia fistula leaf in blood glucose lowering effect. The extract was tested for hypoglycemic, oral glucose tolerance and antidiabetic effect in two dose levels, 200 and 400 mg/kg, using glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg) as standard. Other in vivo models included glucose uptake studies in psoas muscle, intestinal glucose absorption and liver glycogen content. Also the extract was studied for its antioxidant activity in in vitro (DPPH and NBT) and in vivo (lipid peroxidation and GSH level) models. The extract was found to be hypoglycaemic, glucose tolerant and antidiabetic (p<0.01) in alloxan induced diabetic model. The extract increased the uptake of glucose in psoas muscle, decreased the absorption of glucose in rat intestine and increased the glycogen level in liver. In case of the antioxidant activity, the extract showed good free radical scavenging activity in both the in vitro models, reduced the lipid peroxidation and increased the level of glutathione in liver and kidney.