HYPOGLYCAEMIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ACTINIOPTERIS DICHOTOMA BEDD IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Substantial evidence suggests that ethanolic extracts of Actiniopteris dichotoma Bedd increase pancreatic cell viability after STZ (streptozotocin) treatment as a result of their antioxidant properties. In the present study, the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Actiniopteris dichotoma bedd were studied in normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats, extract orally administrated at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg once a day for 28 consecutive days. Fasting blood sugar level (FBS), triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDLcholesterol levels were measured. In normal rats, no significant changes were observed in FBS and lipid profiles after orally administration of plant extracts. In diabetic rats, oral administration ethanolic extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg caused significant decreases in glucose level, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels. However, the ethanolic extract at 500 mg/kg dosage caused a high significant decreases FBS level. The observed effects indicated that Actiniopteris dichotoma Bedd could be further developed as a drug to prevent abnormal changes in blood glucose and lipid profile and to attenuate lipid peroxidation in liver and spleen tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Actiniopteris dichotoma Bedd in normal and STZ induced diabetic rats.