Anti-diabetic, Hypolipidemic and Anti-oxidant Activities of Hydroethanolic Root Extract of Rhus Mysurensis Heyne in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes in Wistar Male Rats

Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the potential role of hydroethanolic root extracts  were Rhus mysurensis (HERM) in the treatment of diabetes along with its antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effects was studied in streptozotocin induced diabetes in Wistar rats. Methods: In this study, the anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic and anti-oxidant activities of hydroethanolic root extract of Rhus mysurensis was evaluated by using STZ induced diabetic rats at a dose of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg p.o. daily for 21 days. Blood glucose levels and body weight were monitored at specific time intervals, and different biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein were also assessed in the experimental animals. Results: Oral administration of hydroethanolic root extracts of Rhus mysurensis (HERM) 400 and 800 mg/kg for 21 days significantly decreased the blood glucose level and considerably increased the body weight of diabetic induced rats. Daily oral treatment with HERM for 3 weeks resulted in reduced serum cholesterol, and triglycerides and improved HDL-cholesterol levels when compared to the diabetic control group. HERM significantly decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and significantly increased superoxide dismutase and catalase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at the end of 21 days of treatment. Conclusion: Hydroethanolic root extract of Rhus mysurensis showed significant anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic and anti-oxidant activities, which provide the scientific proof for its traditional claims. The results also put forward that the HERM is promising for development of standardized phytomedicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Key words: Anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, hypolipidemic, Rhus mysurensis.