Trends in Biosciences

Diabetes mellitus; a metabolic disorder is associated with deficiency or insufficient release of insulin from islets of langerhans resulting in large number of lipid abnormalities. Alterations in lipid metabolism along with free radicals leads to oxidative stress causing detrimental effects at cellular and tissue levels. Gymnema sylvestre have antidiabetic properties and have been used in Ayurvedic medicines from times immemorial. Despite having hypoglycaemic effect, the effect of the leaves and bark on hyperlipemia, diabetes and oxidative stress has not been elucidated to date. The dry leaf and bark powder of Gymnema sylvestre (1.5mg/kg b.w) was investigated for its antioxidative efficacy in male albino wistar strain. Rats were rendered hyperlipidemic by feeding high fat high cholesterol diet (HFHC) and diabetic by single intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared streptozotocin (STZ) (45mg/kg b.w.). Glibenclamide was used as a standard reference drug. The experimental diets were supplemented for a period of 45 days. High fat-high cholesterol feeding and STZ induced diabetes resulted in significant increase in oxidative stress levels of blood and hepatic tissues of rats. Treatment with Gymnema sylvestre significantly restored the physiolological parameters to near normal. The effect of Gymnema sylvestre was better than glibenclamide. Gymnema sylvestre can be used as a prophylactic agent for prevention and progression of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus.