Antidiabetic efficacy of Swertia chirayita extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic wistar rats

Abstract

The alcoholic extract of Swertia chirayita extract was tested for its biochemical and pathomorphological effects in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. Streptozotocin produced diabetes effectively in all the animals at 45 mg/kg b.w. intraperitonially. The diabetic animals showed significant increase in serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT and AST and a significant reduction in serum insulin levels. Swertia chirayita treated rats at the dose of 500 mg/kg b.w showed significant reduction in the serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT and AST with significant improvement in serum insulin levels compared to diabetic animals from day 3 post treatments till the end of the study. Swertia chirayita also improved the damage caused by streptozotocin morphologically in pancreas by promoting the regeneration of beta cells of islets of Langerhans.