Abstracto

Evaluation of antihyperglycemic activity of isolated phytosterols from fruits of Lagenaria siceraria in alloxan induced diabetic rats

R.P.Kalsait, K.P.Bhusari, A.N.Saoji, P.B.Khedekar

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl from cucurbitaceae family is a large, pubescent, climbing or trailing herb, cultivated throughout the India and the tropical regions of the world. Phytochemical investigations showed positive tests for phytosterols, these phytosterols were isolated from the methanol extract of fruits of plant Lagenaria siceraria and identified as Fucosterol, Stigmasterol, Racemosol and Stigmata-7, 22- dien - 3â, 4â - diol. The antihyperglycemic activity of isolated phytosterols and methanol extract was investigated in diabetic albino rats; diabetes was induced by intra-peritoneal administration of alloxanmonohydrate at a dose of 125mg/ kg to albino rats. Albino rats were divided into various groups as follows: Group I received salinewater,Group II receivedmetformine 10mg/kg served as diabetic control while group III, IV, V received phytosterols at a dose of 10, 20, 30 mg/kg respectively.While group VI, VII, VIII were treated with methanol extract at a dose of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Blood samples were collected from tail vein and blood glucose was estimated in acute, sub-acute and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) study protocol. Oral administration of phytosterols at a dose of 30 mg/kg of body weight to alloxan induced diabetic rats resulted in significant (p < 0.001) decrease in blood glucose level in both acute and sub acute study protocol, it also significantly increase the glucose tolerance in OGTT test animals. These results indicate that the phytosterols exhibit significant anti-hyperglycemic activity.