Antidiabetic and antioxidant effect of various fractions of Phyllanthus simplex in alloxan diabetic rats

Aim of the study: To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of various fractions of Phyllanthus simplex on alloxan induced diabetes in rats. Materials and methods: Hypoglycemic effect of Phyllanthus simplex fractions was evaluated in normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg). Normal and diabetic rats were divided into different groups (six rats each group) and orally administered with petroleum ether (P.E.) (200 and 400 mg/kg), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) (100 and 200 mg/kg), methanol (125 and 250 mg/kg). water fraction (150 and 300 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. Blood samples were collected from overnight fasted normal rats on day 21, from overnight fasted diabetic rats at 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment and analyzed for blood glucose level. On day 22 blood samples were collected from diabetic rats to estimate biochemical parameters, rats were sacrificed by single stunning and tissues were excised to measure their antioxidant and glycogen status. Results: In the normoglycemic rats, MeOH (125 and 250 mg/kg) and aqueous fractions (150 and 300 mg/kg) showed a significant (P<0.05) hypoglycemic effect on day 21. In diabetic control rats, MeOH (125 and 250 mg/kg) and aqueous fractions (150 and 300 mg/kg) showed significant anti hyperglycemic effect (P<0.001). The active fractions (MeOH and aqueous) of Phyllanthus simplex also increased the body weight of diabetic rats significantly compared to the control group. The active fractions were able to normalize the marked alterations in antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant parameters levels in liver and kidney. Treatment with the active fractions also normalized the diabetic induced hyperlipidemia and liver glycogen. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of fractions of Phyllanthus simplex and suggests that the plant may have therapeutic value in diabetes and related complications. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.