Hypoglycemic Activity of Leucas linifolia (Lamiaceae) Spreng.

The hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Leucas linifolia were investigated for in-vitro alpha amylase inhibitory activity and hypoglycaemic activity on normal rats and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Leucas linifolia showed good in-vitro alpha amylase inhibitory activity as compare to standard acarbose with IC50 value of 27.13 and 33.61. The methanolic extract (300mg/kg) and ethyl acetate extract (300mg/kg) of Leucas linifolia reduced the normal blood glucose level from 78.2 ± 3.126 to 57 ± 4.266 mg/dl and 82.4 ± 1.208 to 61.2 ± 4.630, 2h after oral administration of the extract (P<0.01). In case of alloxan induced hypoglycaemic activity, the blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 7^th 15^th and 21^st day after the extract treatment. Both methanolic (300mg/kg) and ethyl acetate (300mg/kg) extracts also significantly lowered the blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic rat from 311.16 ± 8.356 to 241.0 ± 6.812 mg/dl and 309.5 ± 9.674 to 242.5 ± 9.882 mg/dl, 21 day after oral administration of extract (P<0.001). The antihyperglycemic activity of Leucas linifolia was compared to standard drug glibenclamide (0.25mg/kg), an oral hypoglycaemic activity. Besides total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were also investigated for methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts.