Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: August | Volume: 9 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 19-28
Antidiabetic Effect of Hellenia speciosa (J. Koenig) S. R. Dutta in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats
Ramya R1, Dhamotharan R2
1Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, J.B.A.S College for Women, Teynampet, Chennai - 600018
2Associate Professor, PG & Research Department of Botany, Presidency College, Triplicane, Chennai - 600005
Corresponding Author: Ramya R
ABSTRACT
Hellenia speciosa is a member of costaceae family and is used for the treatment of diabetes in Southern Indian. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Hellenia speciosa leaves in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The oral administration of crude leaf extract in diabetic rats for 28 days at a dosage of 300mg/kg body weight exhibited a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in fasting blood glucose level and a remarkable increase in serum insulin level. There was a significant reduction (P <0.05) in total cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase in diabetic rats treated with Hellenia speciosa leaf extract.No significant change in serum sodium level, potassium level, chloride level and calcium level in diabetic rats when compared with control and experimental groups of rats. This shows that leaf is nontoxic and regenerates the toxic effect induced by alloxan. Based on the above results, it is evident that the leaves of Hellenia speciosa have antidiabetic effect and can be considered as an effective formulation for future studies. Histopathological studies reinforce the healing power of Hellenia speciosa in the liver and kidney tissues, as a possible mechanism of their antidiabetic activity.
Key words: Hellenia speciosa, alloxan, antidiabetic activity, costaceae