Biochemical studies on the effect of Terminalia chebula on the levels of glycoproteins in streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes in rats

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Terminalia chebula fruit extract on the levels of and tissue glycoprotein components in streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats. Oral administration chebula fruit extract at a concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight for 30 days significantly the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, urea, and creatinine as well as fucose, hexosamine and sialic acid in the diabetic rats treated with the fruit extract. The observed in the levels of plasma insulin and C-peptide in the diabetic rats was elevated to near normal chebula fruit extract treatment. Histological observations made on the pancreatic tissue of control experimental groups also revealed the beneficial effect of T. chebula fruit extract. The efficacy of fruit extract was comparable with glibenclamide, a known hypoglycaemic drug.