ABSTRACT:
Objective: The study was focused on antidiabetic activity of saponin isolated from the fruits of Momordica dioica against STZ induced Type I diabetic mellitus in rats. Methods: Saponin was isolated from methanolic extract of fruits of M. dioica and purification was achieved through fractionation method of TLC. Overnight fasting, for Type I diabetes was induced in rats by I.P. of STZ dose of 65 mg/kg b.w. During the study, body weight and fasting blood glucose level were taken. At the end of study, animals in all groups were sacrificed and biochemical parameters; Lipid profile, HbA1c, Serum insulin, pancreatic insulin, histology of pancreas, and in-vitro insulin secretion activity and proliferation of beta cells in RIN-5F cell lines were performed. Results and conclusion: Significant antidiabetic activity of saponin Momordica dioica (SMD) observed in the present investigation could be the result of decreased blood glucose levels, improved body mass, showed improvisation in lipid profile. The diabetic rats were validated by their higher HbA1c levels as compared the normal control but the treated diabetic group showed significantly decreased in the HbA1c levels. Similarly the increase in serum insulin and pancreatic insulin may facilitate to prevent diabetic complication. Diabetic pancreas of rats showed degeneration of beta cell density and disruption of normal architecture, whereas treatment group showed reversible beta cell degeneration. SMD was found to possess insulinotropic activity when rat insulinoma cell line was treated with it. Proliferation of RIN-5F was found to increase at low doses but tend to decrease with accelerating doses.