EFFECT OF TORILIS LEPTOPHYLLA WHOLE PLANT EXTRACT ON ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE IN GLUCOSE INDUCED HYPERGLYCEMIC RATS

Abstract

Background:
Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder characterized by persistently raised blood glucose levels. Defects in insulin secretion and its peripheral actions lead to imbalance in glycemic homeostasis. This research is designed to determine the effect of Torillis leptophylla on glycemic changes after oral glucose challenge in rats in comparison with glibenclamide.

Material and Methods:
This study was conducted at University of Health Sciences, Lahore from April, 2016 to September, 2016. Thirty adult albino Wistar rats of male sex, weighing 140-180g were assigned to five groups (n=6) randomly. Animals were subjected to 12 hours fast. Fasting blood
glucose levels were measured at zero hour, drawing blood samples from tail vein. Afterwards, distilled water was given to group A (negative control). Whole plant extract of Torillis leptophylla was administered orally to groups B, C and D at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively. Positive control was given glibenclamide by gavage as a reference drug at the dose of 5 mg/kg following the protocol described elsewhere.15 The rats were administered 4 g/kg oral glucose load ½ hour after the drug treatment. Repeated blood sampling was done at ½, 1, 1½ and 2 hours after glucose challenge. Changes in blood glucose level were noted. Data was analyzed with the help of SPSS, taking p value < 0.05 to be statistically significant.

Results:
Torillis leptophylla and glibenclamide showed significant decline in blood glucose level (5.48 ±0.35 and 4.13 ±0.13 mmol/l respectively) as compared to negative control (7.67 ±0.13 mmol/l) after oral glucose load (p value < 0.0001).

Conclusion:
Torillis leptophylla possesses glucose lowering activity comparable to glibenclamide. It could be used for developing new oral agents to treat diabetes mellitus.