Antidiabetic activity of Cicer arietinum seeds in alloxan induced animal model

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate antihyperglycaemic activity of Cicer arietinum seeds at three different doses i.e. 100,200 and 500 mg/kg p.o. in alloxan (150 mg/kg i.p.) induced diabetic mice. The acute oral toxicity was performed which indicated no mortality upto 2000 mg/kg p.o. dose of Cicer arietinum seeds. In both acute and subacute studies serum glucose level (SGL) was measured. The change in body weight was noted during subacute study. OGTT was performed in diabetic rat previously loaded with (2.5 g/kg p.o.) glucose. glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug. The maximum reduction in SGL was observed in Cicer arietinum seeds (500 mg/kg) group at 6h (145.54±9.62) in acute study and on 21st day (248.59±9.84) in subacute study respectively. In glibenclamide treated mice the maximum reduction in SGL was observed at 6h (194.97 mg/dl) and on 21st day (267.40mg/dl) respectively. Cicer arietinum seeds (500 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) prevented loss of body weight in diabetic mice. OGTT showed increased glucose threshold in non-diabetic and diabetic mice. It is concluded that glibenclamide showed antihyperglycaemic activity comparable with glibenclamide.