Comparative evaluation of antidiabetic antihypertensive activity of Cynodon dactylon L. and Phyllanthus niruri L in ratswith simultaneous type 2 diabetic and hypertension

In recent years, the use and search for drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have accelerated in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension because of the hazardous adverse effects of the current therapy. A comparison was made between the antidiabetic-antihypertensive activities of aqueous extracts of leaves of Cynodon dactylon and Phyllanthus niruriin rats with simultaneous type 2 diabetic and hypertension. The aq. extracts of leaves of Cynodon dactylon (200mg/kg/day)and Phyllanthus niruri (600mg/kg/day) was administered orally in Diabetic Control (DC), SHR and Diabetic-SHR (D-SHR). Body weight of animals were measured weekly throughout the study (28 days). Blood glucose level and total cholesterol level was measured at day 0 after induction of diabetes and at day 28. Arterial blood pressure of all the groups was measured at day 14 and day 28 by tail cuff method. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels in all the groups were measured at the end of experiment. No loss in the weight of animal was observed in the group treated with the aqueous herbal extracts. The study showed that herbal extracts prevented attenuation of the blood glucose and total cholesterol levels; significant decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and decrease in SGOT level. The findings of the study support the traditional use of C. dactylon and P. niruri for the treatment of diabetes and arterial hypertension, and indicate that they may have a beneficial effect in patients with co-existing diabetic hypertension.