ABSTRACT:
Background: The enzymes that govern carbohydrate metabolism in the hepatocytes are considered as potential targets for the maintenance of normal glycemic control in diabetic individuals. Gymnemic acid (GA), a triterpene glycoside is one such phytochemical, originally isolated from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre which lacks scientific validation for its folklore use. Methods: It was aimed to study the activity of GA (5mg/kg.b.w./rat for 30 days) in the regulation of glucose homeostasis by modulating the activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes in hepatocytes of T2DM in rats. Methods: The assay of activities of carbohydrate metabolizing regulatory enzymes of Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP), Phosphogluconate and Gluconeogenic pathways in hepatic tissues were performed. Results: The altered activities of regulatory enzymes of these pathways in hepatic tissues of diabetic rats were significantly reverted to near normalcy upon oral treatment with GA. In addition, oral administration of GA to experimental diabetic groups of rats showed significant reduction in the levels of fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin and increased level of plasma insulin and hemoglobin. Conclusion: From, the current data validated that the oral administration of GA to diabetic rats regulates carbohydrate homeostasis by regulating the activities of glucose metabolizing enzymes.