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The investigation was carried out to study the effects of Iris ensata Thunb root on blood glucose level. The extracts of dried root of Iris ensata Thunb were screened for their effects on hypoglycemic activity in normal, glucose loaded and STZ induced diabetic rats. The extracts exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity in all the three animal models when compared with the control group. Streptozotocin was given intraperitoneally 50mg/kg body weight. Oral administration of Iris ensata Thunb root for 21 days significantly reduced blood glucose level in STZ induced diabetic rats and also in normal rats. The hypoglycaemia and antihyperglycaemia produced by the extracts may be due to increased uptake of glucose at tissue level or increase in pancreatic â-cells function or due to the inhibition of intestinal absorption of glucose. The study reveals for the first time the antihyperglycemic activity of Iris ensata Thunb root in normal, glucose fed and STZ induced diabetic rats. Results of acute and chronic studies proven that root extracts of Iris ensata Thunb showed antihyperglycemic effect in normal rats, and also in STZ induced diabetic rats.
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes mellitus is a complex syndrome that affects multiple organ systems. There is still much learn about the diabetes mellitus (Eric and Dick. 2000).
Diabetes mellitus it is a spectrum of condition that includes hyperglycemia, as a common medical finding. Diabetes was thought as a single disease, but it is clearly heterogeneous group of disorders that are secondary to various genetic predisposition and precipitating factors. Diabetes it is a chronic disease characterized by disorders in carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism caused by an absolute or relative deficiency in the action of insulin and possibly abnormally high amounts of glucagons and other counter regulatory hormones such as growth hormone, sympathomimetic amines and corticosteroids (Kaleem et al. 2008). Alternative strategies to the current modern pharmacotherapy of diabetes mellitus are urgently needed, because of the inability of existing modern therapies to control all the pathological aspects of the disorder as well as the enormous cost and poor availability of the modern therapies for many rural populations in developing countries (Djomeni et al..2009). In the recent past many hypoglycaemic agents are introduced, still the diabetes and related complications continue to be the major medical problem not only...