ABSTRACT:
The objective of the study is to investigate the alcoholic (AlcE) and aqueous (Aq) extracts of leaves of Terminalia tomentosa (Combretaceae) leaves for hypoglycemic effects in normal and diabetic rats. Crude aqueous (Aq) and alcoholic (AlcE) extracts of the leaves of T. tomentosa were administered to both normal and alloxan (120 mg/ kg, i.p.) or by injecting dexamethasone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) induced diabetic male albino rats (Wister strain). AlcE and Aq had significantly decreased the blood-glucose level (BGL) in a dose-dependent manner after repeated administration for seven days. In alloxan-induced diabetic rats, both the extracts decreased blood sugar levels with significant improvement in glucose tolerance and body weight at the end of 1st, 2nd and 3rd week after the test extract treatment. In case of dexamethasone induced insulin resistant diabetic rats, repeated administration of AlcE and Aq inhibited the increase in blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance induced by dexamethasone as compared to dexamethasone induced diabetic rats. These results suggest that both extracts possess hypoglycemic activity in normal as well as in diabetic rats.