On the Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Activities of Root Extract of Asparagus racemosus in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Oxidative stress induced by the rise in free radicals is the pivotal cause of many dreadful diseases in which Diabetes mellitus is one of them. Diabetes mellitus results in hyperglycemia leading to an increase in oxidative stress in the body due to the generation of free radicals that cause complications such as nephropathy due to oxidative damage. Many plant-derived phytomedicines are known to reduce diabetes-related complications. Asparagus is one such medicinal plant, which is widely used as phytomedicine for many diseases by traditional healers. In the present study, Asparagus racemosus crude methanolic root extract (ACMRE) was assessed for its hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. The crude methanolic root extract of Asparagus was prepared using soxhlet apparatus. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups viz. Normal control, Diabetic and Asparagus treated diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by administering Alloxan (100 mg/kg body weight) in the tail vein. Diabetic rats were orally treated with 500 mg per kg body weight dose of crude methanolic root extract of Asparagus racemosus for 30 days using gavage. Blood glucose, creatinine and tissue antioxidants levels were analyzed at an interval of 10, 20 and 30 days respectively. Enzymic antioxidants such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione Reductase (GR), Catalase (CAT) and nonenzymic antioxidant molecule like Reduced Glutathione (GSH) were analysed along with serum creatinine and blood sugar using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. Treatment with crude root extract significantly reduced the blood glucose and increased the enzymic and non enzymic antioxidant significantly (p< 0.05) of kidney tissue as compared to the diabetic rat group which was further confirmed by the decrease in the level of serum creatinine. Thus, the results indicate that the plant has hypoglycemic as well as antioxidant potential.