Evaluation of Hypoglycemic Activity of Barringtonia Acutangula Fruit Extracts in Streptozotocin Induced Hyperglycemic Wistar Rats

The objective of the study is to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of Barringtonia acutangula (BA) fruit extracts i.e. aqueous, methanol and chloroform in streptozotocin (STZ) 50mg /kg induced hyperglycemic Wistar rats. In addition, the effect off all the three extracts of BA fruit on oral glucose tolerance in glucose loaded normal rats was also determined. Aqueous extract (400 mg/kg) treatment in STZ induced hyperglycemic rats showed significant (P<0.001) decrease in fasting blood glucose levels (BGL) both in acute and chronic study. The activity of the extract was comparable to the standard drug glibenclamide (0.9 mg/kg). Acute administration of aqueous extract (400mg/kg) markedly improved oral glucose tolerance in glucose loaded normal rats, indicating its antihyperglycemic activity. The results of present study indicates that methanol and chloroform extracts do not showed significant hypoglycemic activity whereas aqueous extract of BA fruit possess significant hypoglycemic potential in STZ induced hyperglycemic rats.