Antidiabetic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Padina Boergesenii in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Objective: The present study was to evaluate antidiabetic activity of Padina boergesenii extract in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Oral administration of the effective dose of P. boergesenii to the diabetic rats for 20 days showed abridged effects on fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipoprotein levels. Results: Significant difference was observed in liver glycogen and total protein levels in diabetic rats after P. boergesenii extract treatment (p<0.005). The extract of P.boergesenii significantly increased the activities of the key glycolytic enzymes like hexokinase, aldolase and phosphoglucoisomerase and decreased the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes like flucose-6-phosphatase and fructose -1, 6-diphosphatase in liver and kidney of experimental rats. Conclusions: P. boergesenii shows to have a potential value for the development of an effective phytomedicine for diabetes. Further comprehensive chemical and pharmacological investigations are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of the hypoglycemic effect of P. boergesenii and compounds are accountable for its antidiabetic effect.