Evaluation of Anti-diabetic Activity of two marketed Herbal Formulations

This study carried out to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of two marketed herbal formulations ADD1 (DIA ARECA) and ADD2 (ASANADI KAHSAYA CHOORNA) which are available in Ayurvedic outlets in Karnataka. These formulations claimed to have blood sugar lowering activity and the present study aims at validating the claim using Streptozotocin induced diabetic models in rats.

Acute toxicity studies of the test drugs were carried out as per OECD guidelines 425. The experimental animals were divided into 7 groups of 6 animals each. First, second and third groups served as normal control, diabetic control and standard control respectively. To group four and five test drug ADD1 was given in two different doses and groups six and seven received test drug ADD2 at two different doses. Medium dose (40 mg/kg body weight) of Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes.

The results show both the test compounds could decrease the elevated blood sugar level. However, they were not as effective as the standard drug (Metformin). ADD2 showed better anti-diabetic activity as compared to ADD1.

Though both the test compounds showed the ability to decrease blood glucose level, we feel that the activity of ADD1 is not very significant.