The Effect of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Boerhavia diffusa Linn. (Nictaginaceae) on the Activities of Antidiabetic, Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Enzymes in Experimental Diabetes

Diabetic therapeutic potentiality of methanol extract of stem leaves of Boerhavia diffusa was investigated following in-vivo study models in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Methanol extract of stem leaves of Boerhavia diffusa exerted the glucose lowering effect an increase in serum insulin level on 28st day of postadministration. In addition to a higher expression of insulin receptor A. The extract treatment or glibenclamide for 28 days significantly (p<0.05) reduced HbA1c.

Boerhavia diffusa L. or glibenclamide for 28 days show no damaging effect on red blood count and hemoglobin when compared to the control group. Significant (p<0.05) increase in platelet count and white blood cell count was observed in groups treated with Boerhavia diffusa L. and glibenclamide when compared to control group.

Boerhavia diffusa L. and glibenclamide showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) low density Lipoprotein (LDL), Alanine amino transferase (ALT), Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). Methanol extract of 600 mg/kg b.w had more lowering effect (p<0.05) on TC and TG as opposed to the untreated group.

Methanol extract or glibenclamide also modulated significantly (P<0.05) the activities of carbohydrate-metabolising enzymes and Hepatic glycogen content. Boerhavia diffusa or glibenclamide administration up-regulated mRNA expression of Glucose Transporter-2 (Glut2)

Boerhavia diffusa or glibenclamide also corrected antioxidant status of diabetic animals in liver. The lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of extracts from Boerhavia diffusa is stronger when compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid.

These clearly showed that methanol extract from Boerhavia diffusa has the inhibitory activities of the xanthine oxidase, lipoxygenase and acetylcholinesterase enzyme.