Preliminary phytochemical screening and evaluation of hypoglycemic activity of Tinospora cordifolia in alloxan induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, which characterizes with hyperglycemia and its related complication. Herbal plants or botanical medicines have been used traditionally by herbalists worldwide for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The present investigation was aimed to screening of phytochemical constituents in Tinospora cordifolia stem methanolic extract and to attempt assess the hypoglycemic activity of daily oral administration of Tinospora cordifolia stem extract (500 mg/kg of body weight) for 42 days. Significantly decreased (P<0.01) in blood glucose, blood urea, glycosylated hemoglobin and cholesterol and increased in protein, liver glycogen levels and body weight were observed in treated with Tinospora cordifolia. The activities of hepatic enzymes such as hexokinase was significant increased and glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose1,6-biphosphatase were significantly (P<0.01) decreased by the administration of Tinospora cordifolia stem extract in diabetic rats when compared to normal rats and standard drug glibenclamide treated rats.