Journal of Environmental Biology

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Tephrosia purpurea

leaf extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

P. Pavana¹,  S.  Manoharan^*1, G. L. Renju¹ and S. Sethupathy²

*manshisak@yahoo.com

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India

²Division of Biochemistry, Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India

(Received: February 17, 2006 ; Revised received: June 17, 2006 ; Accepted: July 01, 2006)

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide leading metabolic syndrome, associated with profound alterations in carbohydrate, lipids, lipoproteins and protein metabolisms. Worldwide, traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes and its complications use a wide variety of medicinal plants. In the present study, the aqueous extract of Tephrosia purpurea leaves (TpALet) was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Profound alterations in the concentrations of blood glucose, lipids and lipoproteins were observed in diabetic rats. Oral administration of  TpALet to diabetic rats at a dose of 600mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the level of blood glucose and increased the level of plasma insulin as well as normalized the lipids and lipoproteins profile. The present study thus demonstrated that TpALet has prominent antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Key words:   Diabetes mellitus, Tephrosia purpurea, Streptozotocin, Lipids

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