HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CINNAMOMUM TAMALA LEAVES IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN DIABETIC RATS

Indian traditional system of medicine has been used plants and herbs for treatment of diabetes since time of Vedic glory. In this regard many plants are still untouched, having remarkable efficacy. The blood glucose lowering effect of 95% ethanol extract of Cinnamomum tamala (Hamm.) Nees. & Eberm., leaves was investigated at a single oral dose of 250mg/kg body weight in normal fasted, fed, glucose loaded and streptozotocin-induced diabetic male albino rats. Further, effect of crude extract was studied on muscle glycogen content and histology of pancreatic β-cells granularity of normal rats to probe in to its mechanism of action. Significant reduction in blood glucose levels observed in fasted, fed and diabetic rats. Extract also suppressed the peak value significantly in the glucose loaded rats. Marked degranulation in pancreatic β-cells of extract treated rats associated with corresponding blood glucose lowering suggests insulin secretogogue effect of extract that promote the peripheral utilization of glucose and also increase the muscle glycogen store in fed model, resulting in hypoglycaemic response. In diabetic model the action of C. tamala extract may be insulin like.