Effects of Syzygium Cumini Bark on Blood Glucose, Plasma Insulin and C-peptide in Streptozotocininduced Diabetic rats

In recent years, several plant extracts have i been examined for their antidiabetic properties in an effort to identify alternativetreatment strategies that pose less of a risk for diabetics. the present study was undertaken to investigate the antidiabetic effects ofsyzygium cumini bark in experimental diabetes mellitus.materials and methods: diabetes was induced in male albino wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mglkg bodyweight), after which, the animals were randomly allocated into five experimental groups as follows: group 1: normal rats, group 2: normal rats received syzygium cumini bark extract (sbet; 300mglkg body weight), group 3: diabetic control rats, group 4: diabetic rats receiving sbet (300mglkg), group 5: diabetic rats received glibenclamide (600pglkg body weight). the effects of 45 days treatment of sbet on blood glucose, plasma insulin, c-peptide, urine sugar and body weight were studied in comparison to those of glibenclamide.results: blood glucose levels (268.10±19.25 mg/dl.) and urine sugar increased significantly whereas the levels of plasma insulin (5.01±0.29 mo u/l) and c-peptide (167.68± 8.50 pmolfl) decreased sig-nificantly in diabetic rats as compared to normal rats. oral administration of sbet exhibited antidiabetic activity by significantly (p<0.05)lowering blood glucose (84.30±4.25) and urine sugar levels in diabetic rats. additionally, diabetic rats treated with sbet had significantly(p<0.05) elevated levels of plasma insulin (10.29±0.59) and c-peptide (236.50±11.87). during ogtt, long-term administration of sbet wasable to significantly (p<0.05) decrease blood glucose concentrations (93.94 ± 3.17; 120min) at various time intervals when compared to the ogtt pattern of diabetic rats (316.03 ± 18.03). as comparedto glibenclamide, sbet has better antidiabetic effects.conclusions: the findings of this study indicate that the antidiabetic activity of sbet, and both the pancreatic and the extrapancreatic mechanisms might be involved such apparent dual actionsof sbet would be more advantageous to the existing oral antidiabetic monotherapy.