Effect of thespesone-vanadium complex in alloxan induced diabetic rats

In the present study, we isolated "thespesone", a pyranonapthaquinone, from Thespesia populnea, complexed with vanadium (TVa) evaluated for diabetes mellitus in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by pre-standardized dose of alloxon in the animals. Diabetic animals showed significant increase (p < 0.01) in the levels of plasma glucose, serum triglycride, cholesterol, and blood pressure significant decrease in serum HDL-cholesterol level (p<0.01) when compared with control animals. Treatment with TVa for 42 days significantly lowered the plasma glucose and serum cholesterol (p < 0.01) when compared with diabetic animals. Also, diabetic animals treated with TVa showed significant decrease in elevated mean arterial blood pressure (p < 0.01). Hence, the results obtained in the present study indicated that thespesone vanadium complex has the potential to treat diabetes mellitus owing to its insulin mimetic potential.