Effect of water extract from Coscinium Fenestratum on blood glucose in rats

Abstract

Hypoglycemic effect of crude water extract of Coscinium fenestratum, family Menispermaceae, in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats has been demonstrated. Crude water extract from dried stem of C. fenestratum, (CE) fed at doses 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 or 1 g/kg body weight significantly decreased blood glucose concentration at 30 min after 1 g/kg body weight glucose feeding. Decreases were 10.40, 10.97, 10.80, 11.57 and 14.75%, respectively; as compared to the control group. No difference in blood glucose concentration were observed in normal rats fed repeated-dose of CE at 1 g/kg body weight/day, for 14 days compared to the control given distilled water. Blood chemistry and hematologic values were not different between the groups fed CE or distilled water. Histopathological findings revealed non-remarkable lesions of liver, exocrine pancreas and pancreatic islet in both groups. Feeding CE in non-fasted, diabetic rats at single doses of 0.1, 0.5 or 1 g/kg body weight showed that only CE at 1 g/kg body weight significantly decreased blood glucose concentration at 2 and 3 hr. Repeated-doses of CE were given to diabetic rats at 0.10, 0.50 and 1 g/kg body weight/day or insulin injection at 5 IU/kg decreased blood glucose concentration on day 7 and day 14, respectively; compared to the control group. CE fed daily in diabetic rats for 14 days significantly suppressed serum cholesterol and triglyceride compared to control fed distilled water. Nonremarkable lesions in histopathological findings of liver, exocrine pancreas and pancreatic islets were found. Acute toxicity test showed no signs of abnormality within 1-4 hr after CE feeding. No mortality within 24 hr and a period of 5 days throughout the experiment was observed. Non-remarkable lesions in histopathological findings of liver, exocrine pancreas and pancreatic islets were demonstrated. LD50 of CE was greater than 20 g/kg body weight. The results obtained favor the therapeutic utilization of this plant.