Effects of a Mixture Of Salacia reticulata W. and Catharanthus roseus L. Extracts in Streptozotocin-Induced Juvenile Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Currently, the focus in management of diabetes is to look for balanced modulation of several targets that can provide a superior therapeutic effect and a decrease in side effect profile. Most of the studies have looked for the effects of a single plant extract in adult rats. Hence, in the present study, the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of a mixture of two herbal plant extracts, Salacia reticulata W. (S. reticulata) and Catharanthus roseus L. (C. roseus) have been evaluated in streptozotocin-induced juvenile diabetic rats.
Methods: The combined extract of S. reticulata and C. roseus (100 mg/kg body wt. each) was administered intragastrically to streptozotocin-induced (50 mg/ kg body wt.) juvenile diabetic Wistar rats for 30 days. The body weight, blood glucose, serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were measured and compared with control, diabetic control and insulin treated groups of rats (n = 6 per group).
Results: Treatment with combined extract of S. reticulata and C. roseus (100 mg/kg body wt. each) to diabetic rats for 30 days significantly reduced blood glucose, serum cholesterol, and serum triglycerides to near control levels. 
Conclusion: The present results show that the combined extracts of S. reticulata and C. roseus have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in streptozotocin-induced juvenile diabetic rats.