Hypoglycemic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Cinnamomum tamala Leaves in Normal and Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats

Indian traditional system of medicine has been used plants and herbs for treatment of diabetes since time of Vedic glory. In this regard many plants still untouched, having remarkable efficacy. The blood sugar lowering effect of 95% ethanolic extract of C. tamala ( Hamm.) Nees. & Eberm., leaves was investigated at single oral dose of 250mg/kg body weight in normal fasted, fed, glucose loaded and streptozotocin-induced diabetic male albino rats. Further, effect of crude extract was studied on muscle glycogen content and histology of pancreatic β-cells granularity of normal rats. Significant blood glucose lowering was observed in fasted, fed and diabetic rats. Extract also suppressed the peak value significantly in the glucose fed rats. Marked degranulation in β-cells of treated rats suggests insulin secretogogue effect of extract that probably be increased the muscle glycogen store and produced hypoglycemic response.