Hypoglycemic activity of Qurse Tabasheer, a Unani formulation, in chemically induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the third leading cause of death; its prevalence is about 6% worldwide.
Conventional management of DM is satisfactory but often associated with adverse effects. Unani Medicine offers
effective anti-hyperglycemic drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of
Qurse Tabasheer (QT) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model. Materials and Methods: Adult Wistar rats of
either sex were divided into five groups of eight animals each. The animals of plain control were given distilled
water throughout the study. Diabetes was induced by single dose injection of STZ (IP, 50 mg/kg) in 0.1M Citrate
buffer, in all the animals of each group except plain control. From the 10th day, Test groups A and B were treated
with QT (583 and 1166 mg/kg), respectively, while standard group was treated with Glibenclamide (600 μg/kg).
The treatments were continued for 56 days. Blood samples were taken on 0th, 10th, 28th, and 56th days. The effect
of test drug was assessed by measuring body weight, fasting and postprandial blood glucose, hepatic glycogen
content, lipid profile, and glycosylated hemoglobin. The data were analyzed statistically using repeated measures
analysis of variance tests with Tukey–Kramer Multiple comparison test. Results: Body weight of animals of the
test and standard groups significantly increased (P < 0.001) on 56th days; fasting blood glucose level decreased
in Test groups A and B. Postprandial glucose level significantly decreased in standard group (P < 0.05). HbA1C
decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in the Test groups A, B, and standard groups. Hepatic glycogen and lipid profile
also normalized in the Test groups A, B, and standard groups. Conclusion: On the basis of above results, it can be
concluded with certain limits that the test drug possesses hypoglycemic potential.