ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF Withania somnifera ROOT AND LEAF EXTRACTS ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The present investigation explores the possibilities of using the root and leaf extracts of an important plant Withania somnifera targeting DM and to examine their hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects on Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Withania somnifera root extracts (WSREt) and leaf extracts (WSLEt) were orally administered daily to diabetic rats for eight weeks. After the treatment period, blood glucose and serum enzymes like aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c high density lipoprotein-bound cholesterol, LDL-c low density lipoproteinbound cholesterol l, LDH and serum proteins levels were determined. The levels of blood glucose, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, serum lipids except high density lipoprotein-bound cholesterol (HDL-c) were significantly increased, but total protein albumin, albumin : globulin (A : G) ratio, were significantly decreased in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Treatment of the diabetic rats with root and leaf extracts altered the changes of the above parameters and restored them after eight weeks of treatment, indicating that the extracts possess hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic properties, hence useful in diabetes mellitus.