Abstract

“A COMPARITIVE STUDY OF ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS AND CATHARANTHUS ALBA FLOWER EXTRACTS ON ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS”

Ayesha Khan*

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of Catharanthus roseus And Catharanthus alba methanolic flower extracts in alloxan induced diabetic rats for 14 days and to compare the results of two varieties in reducing blood glucose levels. At the beginning of this study preliminary phytochemical investigation was carried out on methanolic extracts of flowers of both varieties of Catharanthus. Alloxan (150mg/kg) was administered to male wistar albino rats to induce diabetes. These diabetic rats were grouped and treated with the methanolic flower extracts of catharanthus roseus and Catharanthus alba and glibenclamide separately for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose estimations and body weight measurements were carried out on 0th, 1st, 7th and 14th day of the experiment. On 14th day the serum was separated and analysed for biochemical parameter variations. The whole pancreas of rat were removed and subjected to histological examination. The methanolic flower extracts at high dose (400 mg/kg) exhibited significant (p

Keywords: Catharanthus roseus, Catharanthus alba, methanolic extract, alloxan, blood glucose.