EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF COCCINIA INDICA LEAVES IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Coccinia indica is a climbing, herbaceous, branched tropical vine native to tropical Asia, including India. Being a part of Indian traditional medicine for ages, it has been widely used in reducing blood sugar among various other uses. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the reported anti- diabetic potential of methanolic polyherbal extract of Coccinia indica leaves in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Hyperglycemia was induced in overnight fasted healthy adult Wister albino rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin made in citrate buffer. The diabetic rats in groups received treatment with two different concentrations of the extract, the standard drug and saline. The effectiveness of extract in the maintenance of blood glucose level in both normal and diabetic rats is indicated by significant reduction of the elevated blood sugar level after 10 days of treatment (up to 41.87%) which is comparable to that of standard drug glibenclamide (43.50%) under similar conditions. The results from the experimental studies reflect the efficiency of extract to control blood glucose levels, thereby ascertaining the antihyperglycaemic activity of methanol extract of Coccinia indica and its potential for safe use in the antidiabetic therapy.