Phytochemical Screening, In-vitro and In-vivo Anti-diabetic Activity of Nelumbo nucifera Leaves against Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rabbits

A recent survey has demonstrated that traditional healers and herbalists frequently use Nelumbo nucifera plant to treat diabetes. The plant investigated here has been previously reported as natural folk medicine, but until now no scientific investigation of potential anti-diabetic effects have been reported. Plant leaves of Nelumbo nucifera were screened out for quantitative analysis of phytochemicals, in-vitro anti-diabetic activity (Alpha-amylase inhibitory assay) and In-vivo anti-diabetic assay of animals (rabbits). Quantitative analysis indicates that different phytochemicals were present in plant leaves extract/fractions. In-vitro antidiabetic analysis results poses that butanol fraction is significantly more active than other fractions or extract in antihyperglycemic activity with minimum IC50 value of 8.56 mu g/ml. For In-vivo anti-diabetic assay, animals (rabbits) were examined and animals were divided into 10 groups and except blank group all were treated with standard and plant extracts/fractions doses (25mg and 50mg per Kg body weight) as an aqueous suspension. Their blood sugar level was thoroughly recorded with a glucometer before the administration of sample and standard drug. Alloxan Monohydrate was administrated orally (as an ice-cold water solution) at dose rate 150mg/kg body weight for one week to make animals hyperglycemic. In-vivo analysis indicates that butanol fraction is the most active fraction in antihyperglycemic activity. So Leaves of N. nucifera can be used as antidiabetic remedy. So, it is strongly recommended that N. nucifera leaves should be elucidated further for isolation of active phytochemicals.