BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Herbal therapies always remain a potential source of glycemic control in diabetic patients. Plants or combination of plants improve the healing action and lessen the adverse effects compared to synthetic drugs. The present research was designed to evaluate antidiabetic potential of polyherbal formulation consisting of Sphaeranthus indicus, Caesalpinia bonduc, Bunium persicum, Artemisia absinthium, Cuminum cyminum, Swertia chirata, Gymnema sylvestra, and Citrullus colocynthis in alloxanized diabetic rats. Quantitative phytochemical, RP-HPLC, DPPH and in vitro alpha amylase analyses of formulation were performed. Rats were grouped into six groups (n=15/group) named as control, diabetic control, glibenclamide treated, Treated I, Treated II and Treated III. Hyperglycemic rats of treated groups I, II and III were administered polyherbal formulation at dose rate of 200, 400 and 600mg/kg respectively for 8 weeks after induction of diabetes with alloxan monohydrate (150, IP). The results have shown that alloxan significantly increased fasting blood glucose (531.81 +/- 4.29) and serum glucose (526.0 +/- 6.26) levels. However, 8-weeks treatment of hyperglycemic rats with polyherbal formulation significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose (156.82 +/- 4.51), serum glucose (148.8 +/- 4.04) and increased C-peptide and liver glycogen levels. The levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TAC and TOS were also restored towards normal. Histopathological analysis of pancreas also showed increase in size and number of pancreatic beta cells after polyherbal formulation treatment compared to diabetic group. This study shows that polyherbal formulation has antidiabetic potential as it can improve performance of pancreatic beta cells and insulin secretory capacity by reducing hyperglycemia and oxidative stress induced beta cells apoptosis.