ANTIDIABETIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC POTENTIAL OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF CANNA INDICA L. ROOT AND RHIZOMES IN RAT

Kumbhar Subhash T., Une Hemant D.*, Patil Shriniwas P., Joshi Anagha M.

ABSTRACT

Background: Tribal groups in India and Bangladesh have been using water extract of Canna indica L. (CI) herb since long time to treat diabetes and its other complications. Objective: Present study was an evaluation of antidiabetic activity of polar compounds from CI rhizome and roots extract by oral administration in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats. Material and methods: Extract was prepared by macerating CI rhizome and roots using mixture of ethanol and water (1:1) and screened phytochemically. Research work was conducted for the period of three weeks on Sprague Dawley (SD) rat groups viz. extract treated normal control group, vehicle treated diabetic control group, and standard drug treated group; and extract treatment groups. Streptozotocin (STZ) (single dose 55 mg/kg, ip) was injected to induce type 1 diabetes, glibenclamide (GB) was given (5 mg/kg, po) once daily as standard drug and CI extract given (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, po) once daily in two test groups. Blood samples were collected weekly and examined for hematological and biochemical parameters. Animals were sacrificed on 21st day for histopathological study. Results: CI extract exhibited significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity comparable to that of standard drug. When 200 mg/kg of extract was administered once daily for three weeks, it reduced 116 mg/dl of mean fasting blood glucose and about 2.5-3 ng/mL of serum insulin; and also elevated pancreatic islets density. Extract significantly elevated HDL cholesterol (20-22 mg/dl) and reduced LDL (25-30 mg/dl) and VLDL (8-10 mg/dl) cholesterol in treatment groups. Histopathological examination demonstrated protective effect of plant extract on pancreas, liver, and kidneys; exhibiting less diabetes-induced degenerative damage. Conclusion: Polar compounds from CI rhizome and roots were found effective in controlling type 1 diabetes and its cardiovascular, renal and hepatic complications.

Keywords: Streptozotocin; hypoglycemic; hypolipidemic; serum biochemistry; histopathology; diabetic complications.