Effect of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Use of traditional plant as remedies to treat Diabetes mellitus plays a major role in the inexpensive alternative medicine with fewer or no side effects. Gymnema sylvestre is an herbal plant used by Indian natives for several years to treat Diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract. The anti-diabetic activity was studied using Streptozotocin induced diabetic wistar albino rats. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extract of Gymnema sylvestre shows the presence of phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compound, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and absence of carbohydrates, steroids. Methanolic leaf extract did not produce mortality or morbidity while acute oral toxicity studies in wistar albino rats at 500mg/Kg body weight. The anti-diabetic activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract was confirmed by oral administration of the extract to a Streptozotocin induced diabetic rat.