Evaluation of in vivo Synergistic Hypoglycemic & Hypolipidemic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Calotropis gigantean Leaves in Combination to Metformin in Alloxan Induced Rats

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the antidiabetic & hypolipidemic activity of Calotropis gigantean (Family: Apocynaceae) in alloxan-induced diabetic rat model.

Study Design: In vivo study was carried out by ethanolic leaf extract was administered in 250 mg/kg body weight concentration and then subjected to different rats models to authenticate the antidiabetic and hyperlipidimic properties of the plant.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Banani, Dhaka-1213,Bangladesh within a period of July 2018 to December, 2018.

Methodology: Diabetes was induced in rats by an intraperitoneal injection (i.p) of alloxan (100 mg/kg B.W). Ethanolic leaf extract of C. gigantean (250 mg/kg B.W) was administrated orally as a single dose per day to the diabetic rats for 7 days. The negative control group received 0.5 ml of sterile normal saline water orally & positive control group received metformin orally. Synergistic effect of plant was evaluated by combination with 100 mg/kg B.W & 50 mg/kg B.W oral administration of metformin. After 7 days study period, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, liver weight & body weight were measured only for diabetic group to observe the effects of diabetes induction.

Results: Individual plant extract (250 mg/Kg B.W) & Metformin (100 mg/kg B.W) reduced FBG significantly by 52% (P<0.001) & 55.3% (P<0.001) correspondingly. Metformin (100 mg/kg B.W) potentiated reduction (68%) (P<0.001) when combined to plant extract (250 mg/Kg B.W). Significant dose dependent manner was followed when metformin (50 mg/kg B.W) was combined to plant extract (250 mg/Kg B.W). Our results clearly suggests that C. gigantean exhibit hypoglycemic & hypolipidemic activity with an alteration in body-liver weight. The present study also suggested to develop a combination therapy of extract along with metfromin in different doses to minimize the intake of synthetic drug. Significant reduction of TG, TC were noted by extract (250 mg/kg B.W) with 32.42% (P<0.001) & 41.32% (P<0.001) respectively where standard shown the diminution 43.43% (P<0.05) & 47.21% (P<0.001) respectively as compare to Untreated diabetic rats. 50.21% (P<0.01) & 42.38% (P<0.001) reduction of TG & TC were estimated by C.gigantea extracts (250 mg/kg B.W) when combined with Metformin (100 mg/kg B.W). 34.53% (P<0.05) & 41.54% (P<0.001) reduction of TG & TC by C.gigantea extracts (250 mg/kg B.W) were confirmed when combined to Metformin (50 mg/kg B.W). Combination therapy also has shown synergistic effect in elevation of plasma HDL-cholesterol.

Conclusion: The results of the study concluded that C. gigantean have potential antidiabetic and antioxidant properties.