Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Some Medicinal Plants on Wistar Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose level. The pancreatic β-cells and its secretary hormone i.e. insulin are central in the pathophysiology of Diabetes. In type 2 or non-insulin dependent Diabetes mellitus, muscle and fat cells are ‘resistant’ to the action of the insulin and compensatory mechanisms that are activated in the β-cell to secrete more insulin are not sufficient to maintain blood glucose levels within a normal physiological range. This state is also linked to other common health problems, such as obesity, polycystic ovarian disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis. The epidemic of type 2 Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. Herbal medicines are widely used now a day’s against various ailments. Some of the herbal plants and their active chemical constituents play an important role in the management of Diabetes mellitus. The present investigation was carried out to study the anti-hyperglycemic effect of the various extracts of different medicinal plants including Trigonella foenum-graecum (Methi), Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. (Lemon grass), Triticum aestivum (Wheat grass), Syzgium cumini (Jamun), Bauhinia Purpurea (Kaniyar) & Momordica charantia (Karela) in streptozotocin induced Diabetic Wistar rat models.