Comparative Study of Azadirachta Indica Leaf Powder and Its Different Extracts on Glycemic, Insulinemic and Lipidemic Status of Type 2 Diabetic Model Rats

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral feeding of A. indica leaf (powder, aqueous and 80% ethanol extract) in STZ induced type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ to 48hrs old pups and experiments were carried out three months later. For chronic experiment type 2 rats were divided into 5 groups: 1) Water control, 2) Glibenclamide (5gms/kg b.w.) treated, 3) A. indica powder [mixed with rat feed (1.25 g/kg b.w.)], 4) Aqueous extract and 5) 80% ethanol extract treated. The test drugs were used at a dose of 1.25 g/kg b.w. for 28 consecutive days. Body weight was checked every week. Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip at the beginning and on the days 7, 14, 21 and by decapitation on the 28 th day. Results of the experiment showed that A. indica leaves exerted a gradual reduction in serum glucose level of type 2 diabetic rats. A significant reduction in serum glucose level was noticed on the 21 day (p = 0.001 for powder and p = 0.001 for ethanol extract) as well as on 28 day (p = 0.009 for powder, p =0.02 for aqueous extract and p = 0.001 for 80% ethanol extract). In addition to hyperglycemic effect A. indica leaf also showed hypolipidemic effect. Serum total Cholesterol and TG level decreased significantly by different extracts and powder of A. indica. Glibenclamide as expected, ameliorated diabetic condition significantly (p<0.05). Body weight of the rats tends to increase throughout the study period. No significant change was observed in serum insulin level. The obtained results suggest that A. indica leaf improves the glycemic and lipidemic status of type 2 diabetic rats. The efficacy of A.indica leaf (powder, aqueous extract and 80% ethanol extract) as hypoglycemic and anti-lipidemic agents was found ethanol extract > aqueous extract > powder. Correspondence to Author: