Journal of Innovation in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Momordica sahyadrica is a rare endemic species found mainly in the Western Ghats of India. Its medicinal property is not defined but in ancient time it was used as a folk medicine mainly by the tribal communities comprising M.charantia var.muricata, M.charantia var.charantia, M.dioica and M. sahyadrica. Traditional uses of these species comprising food, medicinal and cosmetic, culinary preparations, vernacular names in local dialects and taboos and religious beliefs relating to their domestication and folk taxonomy. Formerly, material of it was placed under Momordica dioica, but it appeared distinct from that species in various morphological and ecological features. Literature review suggests that Momordica species seems to have some anti-diabetic activity. Hence, the present study is under taken to explore anti diabetic activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of Momordica sahyadrica tuber on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar albino rats of weighing 150–250 g were procured and diabetes was induced in overnight fasted male albino wistar rats by Streptozotocin (45 mg/kg, i.p), hydro alcoholic extract of Momordica sahyadrica (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o) and Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) treatment was given twice a day to diabetic rats for 21 days and blood glucose levels were estimated at different time intervals. On 21^st day, all the animals were sacrificed; blood samples and livers of each animal were collected and biochemical parameters such as blood glucose level, Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, SOD, CAT, MDA, Glucose-6-Phosphatase and Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase activity were estimated. For performing Pancreatic â-cell protective study the animals were treated with hydro alcoholic extract of Momordica sahyadrica (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o) twice a day for 14 days and diabetes was induced in overnight fasted male albino wistar rats by Streptozotocin (45 mg/kg, i.p) on the 15^th day. Blood Glucose level was estimated continuously till 7 days. There was significant increase in the antioxidant levels like SOD and CAT, decrease in MDA, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, blood glucose level compared to the control group. Also there was a significant increase in the Glucose oxidation enzyme Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase and decrease in the gluconeogenic enzyme Glucose-6-Phosphatase. Histopathological studies showed that treatment with MS Extract causes increase in β-cells, Langerhans were restored to normalization and hepatocytes with less amount of inflammatory cells indicating its function on the protection of and pancreatic liver tissue compared to diabetic group.