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Abstract:
The present study was accomplished to explore the hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of the leaves of I .aquatica. The animals used to test the antidiabetic activity were Swiss albino mice of 7-8 weeks, average weight 20-30 gm of both male and female sexes. Twenty four mice were randomly grouped into four where there were two drug groups, one control and one standard control group. Metformin was used as standard in the testing of hypoglycemic activity. Different doses as 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of extract were used during the course of study. Both of the doses showed potent hypoglycemic activity in comparison with the control (P<0.001). But more activity was observed incase of 400 mg/kg body weight dose. Incase of antioxidant effect, the extract showed potent free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 4.4 µg/ ml. Ascorbic acid was used as standard with IC^sub 50^ value of 15.83 µg/ ml.
Key words: Diabetes mellitus (DM), Ipomoea aquatica, 1, 1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), streptozocin, hypoglycemia.
INTRODUCTION:
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease caused by inherited and/or acquired deficiency in production of insulin by the pancreas, or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced. Such deficiency results in increased concentrations of glucose in the blood, which in turn damage many of the body's systems, in particular the blood vessels and nerves [1]. It is now become an epidemic, with a worldwide incidence of 5% in the general population. The number of people suffering from diabetes has soared to 246 million and the disease now kills more people than AIDS [2]. In recent years, a great scientific research interest for the understanding of the etiopathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the ultimate development of definitive curative and/or prophylactic options in its management have been accelerated [3-4]. Drug management of DM without associated untoward effect has also remained a challenge for orthodox medical practice. This has necessitated exploration and screening of medicinal plants with acclaimed therapeutic efficacies in DM management as recommended by the WHO Expert Committee on DM [5-6].
Most of the plants prescribed for diabetes mellitus (DM) are not edible and therefore the studies on edible plants which have a hypoglycaemic effect would be of great value in...