Antidiabetic Effect of Combretum Decandrumin Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Leaves of Sa-Gae-Krur (Combretum decandrum Roxb.) have been used as an

traditional medicine for diabetes mellitus, especially in Northeast of Thailand.

However, there is no experimental evidence of its hypoglycemic effect. Therefore,

this study has an objective to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of the extract of Sa-Gae-Krur

both in normal and diabetic rats. 50% ethanolic extract of dried Sa-Gae-Krur

leaves was used in all experiments. Adult male rats (250-330 g) were made

diabetic by injection of streptozotocin intraperitoneally at dose of 45 mg/kg. One

week after streptozotocin injection, the fasting blood glucose was determined by

glucose oxidase test. Rats with fasting blood glucose above 180 mg/100ml were

considered as diabetic and included in the experiment. The diabetic rats were

randomly given either distilled water, various doses of extract or insulin for 3

consecutive days. The orally administration of Sa-Gae-Krur at doses of 0.5, 0.75 and

1 g/kg/d significantly (P<0.05) decreased the glucose plasma level by 43.6±8.43

(n=4), 58.78±12.72 (n=5) and 37.0±5.45 (n=6) % respectively. In the insulin treated

group (Mixtard HM^®, 4U/kg/d), the plasma glucose were drastically decreased by

87.67±2.15 (n=6) %. Interestingly, the extract of Sa-Gae-Krur at doses of 1 g/kg/d

had no hypoglycemic effect on normal rats. These results suggest that the Sa-Gae-Krur

leave extract possesses antidiabetic effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.