Antidiabetic and Hypolipidemic Activity of Punica granatum Linn on Alloxan Induced Rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder in which the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism is improperly regulated by insulin. Many indigenous Indian medicinal plants have been found to be successfully used to cure diabetes. Herbal drugs are considered to be less toxic and free from side effects than synthetic ones. Keeping this view, the study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic and hypoglycemic activity of Punica granatum. Diabetes & hyperlipidemia was induced by the intra peritoneal injection of alloxan mono hydrate (120mg/kg) for 2 consecutive days. Diabetes was confirmed 2days after the last alloxan dose administration by determining the blood glucose concentration. Treatments were started after confirmation of diabetes in rats. During diabetes, the excess glucose present in the blood reacts with hemoglobin to form glycosylated hemoglobin. So the total hemoglobin level is lowered in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Alloxan induced diabetes has been observed to cause a massive reduction of the beta cells of the islets of pancreas leading to hyperglycemia. Rats treated with alloxan (120mg/kg), for 2 consecutive days, showed an increase in the concentration of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and a decrease in the level of HDL cholesterol and hemoglobin content. Administration of crude powder of Punica granatum husk reduced the concentration of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and raised the level of HDL cholesterol and hemoglobin content in the blood of both group-I normal and group III alloxan diabetic rats treated.