Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activity of Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Costus Pictus D. Don in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Summary The methanol extract of Costus pictus (C. pictus) D. Don (family - Zingiberaceae) leaf was investigated for its antidiabetic and antioxidant effects in Wistar Albino rats. Diabetes was induced in rats by administration of single dose of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p.). The methanol extract of C. pictus (MECP) at doses of 120 and 180 mg/kg (p.o.) was administered as a single dose per day. Tolbutamide served as positive control at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The effect of MECP on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation (LPO), enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and non enzymatic antioxidants (Vitamin A, E, C and reduced glutathione) were investigated in liver and kidney tissues. The MECP produced significant (p<0.001) reduction in blood glucose and lipid peroxidation (LPO). The extract also caused significant increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione. From the above results it is concluded that MECP possesses significant antidiabetic and antioxidant effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats.