Hypoglycemic and Anti-hyperglycemic Activities of Syzygium cumini (Linn.) Skeels Whole Fruit, in Normal and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Objectives: Syzygium cumini belongs to family Myrtaceae and commonly known as black plum. Various traditional systems of medicine and folk have been used its fruit pulp in diabetes. Anti-diabetic activity of whole fruit has not been reported yet. So our traditional claims enforced us to evaluate its anti-diabetic activity and probable mechanism of action. Methods: 95% ethanolic extract of whole fruit of S. cumini was tested in normal fasted, th fed, glucose loaded and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats up to 4 hour of treatment. Further study on muscle glycogen content and histology of pancreatic b -cells granularity associated with blood glucose lowering was done. Results :Significant blood glucose lowering activity was observed in fasted (at 1 h P<0.01, 3 h P<0.001 & 4 h P<0.001), fed (at 3 h P<0.05), glucose loaded (at 1 & 3 h P<0.05) and diabetic (at 3 & 4 h P<0.01) rats at a single oral dose of 250mg/kg body weight, along with marked degranulation in pancreatic b -cells and increase in muscle glycogen store of normal rats. Whole fruit extract was lowered the blood glucose concentration probably by stimulating insulin secretogouge activity and increasing the glycogen store in muscles of normal rats. Conclusion :These observations indicate that the S. cumini whole fruit definitely possess hypoglycemic potential, which has not been reported earlier.