Amelioration of hyperglycaemia and modulation of antioxidant status by Alcea rosea seeds in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Context: Alcea rosea L. (Malvaceae) has various medicinal uses including anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, there is no report on its antidiabetic activity. Objective: Alcea rosea seed extracts were evaluated for antihyperglycaemic and antioxidative potential in diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Single intra-peritoneal injection of alloxan (130 mg/kg b.w.) was used for induction of diabetes in Albino Wistar rats. Antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant activities of methanol and aqueous extracts of Alcea rosea seed (100 and 300 mg/kg b.w.), administered orally on daily basis for 15days, were assessed in vivo for fasting blood glucose level and antioxidant status of liver and pancreas. Metformin was used as a positive control. Results: Aqueous and methanol extracts (300 mg/kg b.w.) decreased blood glucose level in diabetic rats by 24% and 46%, respectively. Administration of aqueous and methanol extracts at 300 mg/kg b.w. significantly (p < 0.01) modulated the antioxidant status of liver in diabetic rats by increasing levels of GR (22.5 +/- 1.0, 24.4 +/- 1.02 mu g GSSG utilized/min/mg of protein), GPx (20.7 +/- 1.2, 23.6 +/- 2.04 mu g GSH utilized/min/mg of protein), SOD (36.1 +/- 1.7, 39.05 +/- 1.5 units/mg of protein) and CAT (1744.5 +/- 132.5, 1956.6 +/- 125.2 nmol H2O2 decomposed/min/mg of protein), respectively. Similar results were observed for pancreas. Discussion and conclusions: Antihyperglycaemic and antioxidative potentials of Alcea rosea seeds suggest its usefulness in management of diabetes and its complications. This is the first report on antidiabetic activity of this plant.