Antidiabetic effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus in alloxan induced diabetic mice

Phyllanthus amarus Schum. Thonn. is an indigenous medicinal plant, which has a folk reputation in central and southern India as hypoglycemic agent. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus in alloxan induced diabetic mice. Blood glucose levels and body weights of control and diabetic mice were monitored. In the present study activities of liver enzymes such as glucokinase, glucose -6phosphatase and fructose -16-diphosphatase were also determined. Glibenclamide an antidiabetic oral drug was used as reference in the present investigation. Oral administration of ethanolic leaf extract (400 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decline in blood glucose from 310.20 to 141.0 mg/dl and significant recovery in body weight of diabetic mice. There was also a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1-6-disphosphatase in liver, further there was significant (P<0.05) increase in the activity of glucokinase in liver of diabetic mice when compared with that of diabetic control. The study clearly shows that the ethanolic leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus possesses potent antidiabetic activity.