ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF LINARIA RAMOSISSIMA (WALL) JANCH IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Linaria ramosissima (Wall.)Janch as an antidiabetic agent in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in rats by single intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ) 60 mg/kg body weight. Animals with BGL more than 200 mg/dl, 48 hrs after STZ injection were considered as diabetic and were used for experiment. Hydroalcoholic extract of Linaria ramosissima (Wall.)Janch was administered for 21days. During treatment period daily food and water intake and weekly body weight and BGL were checked in each group of rats. Histopathology of pancreas was performed at the end of experiment. Results: Mean food and water intake in diabetic group of rats increased as compared to normal control group. Administration of test drug (200mg/kg & 400mg/kg) significantly reduced water intake without significant reduction in food intake as compared to normal control group. Significant decrease in body weight was observed in diabetic group of rats, but administration of extract significantly improved the body weight. Elevated BGL observed in diabetic animals was significantly reduced by administration of extract.Blood glucose lowering effect of extract was confirmed by results of histopathology of pancreas. Conclusion: The results of the studies confirmed the ethanomedicinal use of Linaria ramosissima (Wall.) Janch in treatment of diabetes by reducing BGL, improving parameters like food and water intake, body weight and regeneration of the islets of langerhans. Keywords: Anti-diabetic, Glibenclamide, Blood glucose, Acute oral toxicity, Histopathology.