EVALUATION OF ANTI- HYPERGLYCAEMIC ACTIVITY OF MAYTENUS EMARGINATUS WILLD LEAVES EXTRACT ON STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES IN WISTAR RATS

Maytenus emarginatus Willd. Celeastraceae, popularly known as "Kankeri or kankero", is a Thorny staff evergreen tree that is rich in various chemical constituents that determine the medicinal potential of this species. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that is affecting major population of the world. This study aimed to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Maytenus emarginatus plant which is widely found in dry and arid regions of India mainly in Rajasthan. The hydroalcholic extract of the leaves of M. emarginata (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) were administered orally to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n = 6/group) for 21 days. Changes in body weight, food and water intake, biochemical markers, fasting glucose levels and oral glucose tolerance test were evaluated. The results showed that the M. emarginatus dried extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) reduced significantly the level of blood glucose comparable to glibenclamide (10mg/kg) throughout the evaluation period and improved metabolic status of the animals and ameliorate the oral tolerance glucose test. Thus, we conclude that the extract of the leaves of M. emarginatus has antihyperglycemic activity.