Abstract

TOXICITY EFFECTS ON ANTI--DIABETIC ACTIVITIES OF T. FRAGRANS IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Padavattan Nallamuthu*, Subramani Sundaresan, Rajapandi Margaret Jeyarani and Savariar Vincent

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible antidiabetic activities and toxicity effects of the ethanol extract of the Thunbergia fragrans as it may potentially be a useful source of new effective therapies in the drug development process. The plant specimens were collected from in and around Thiruvannamlai, District, Tamilnadu. A portion of (55 g) the concentrated leaf extract was fractioned by using the modified Kupchan partitioning method into Petroleum extract, Ether extract, Chloroform extract, Ethyl acetate extract, Ethanol extract, Methanol extract, and Aqueous extract. The Wistar albino rats weighing around 150-350gms were selected for the experiment. The animals were checked to confirm that they were free from any disease. The rats were collected from the animal house of VISTAS, Chennai. 117. The T.fragrans treated rats revealed significant (P<0.01) increase in weight of intestinal content when compared to normal rats. In the present study, the induction of diabetes in experimental rats was confirmed by the enhanced level of blood glucose and other physical examinations (increased water uptake and urination). When T. fragrans ethanol extract treatment was given to diabetic-induced rats, the body weight and blood glucose level were significantly restored, a similar patterns of observation was seen in T. fragrans. The reduced insulin secretion in diabetic rats leads to the lack of glucose uptake in the muscles, erythrocytes and central nervous system. To compensate this deficiency, the tissues acquire glucose through gluconeogenesis and simultaneously the glucose was also released into the blood by the liver through glycogenolysis pathway.

Keywords: Antidiabetic activities, Toxicity effects, Wistar albino rats.