Antidiabetic and Hepatoprotective Activities of Tamarindus indica Fruit Pulp in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Narendar Koyagura; V. Hemanth kumar; M.G Jamadar; Shobha V Huilgol; Nagendra Nayak; Saeed M Yendigeri; Mohd Shamsuddin

Abstract

International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences,2013,2,2,33-40.

Published:June 2013

Type:Research Article

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Narendar Koyagura¹*, V. Hemanth kumar¹, M.G Jamadar², Shobha V Huilgol³, Nagendra Nayak⁴, Saeed M Yendigeri⁵, Mohd Shamsuddin⁶

¹Lecturer, ²Professor and Head, ³Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India

⁴Professor, Department of Pharmacology, K.S.Hegde Medical Academy, NITTE University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

⁵Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, 6 Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Al-Ameen Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India

Abstract:

Background: Tamarindus indica belongs to family Caesalpiniaceae. Fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica is believed to have antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and many other medicinal properties. The objective of this study was to investigate antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Tamarindus indica fruit pulp in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into 5 groups (n = 6). Normal and diabetic control groups received normal saline and alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally) respectively. Animals were made diabetic by injection of single dose of alloxan in three test groups and after that they were treated with ethanolic extract of fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica 300 and 500 mg/kg/body weight orally and metformin 150 mg/kg body weight orally respectively for 14 days. Antidiabetic activity was estimated by measuring serum glucose and lipid profile; and hepatoprotective activity was measured by estimating serum liver enzyme levels and histopathological changes in liver tissues. Results were analyzed by One way ANOVA followed by Scheffe multiple comparison tests (p<0.01). Results: The two dose levels of Tamarindus indica significantly altered alloxan induced changes in serum glucose, lipid profile and serum enzyme levels. But in liver histopathology, higher dose (500 mg/kg) of plant showed complete regeneration whereas lower dose (300 mg/kg) showed only partial improvement in liver histopathology profile. Conclusion: Present study revealed that Tamarindus indica possesses antidiabetic and hepatoprotective activity in alloxan induced diabetic rats.