Protective effect of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanolic extractof Terminalia Chebula Retz. fruits on diabetic neuropathy in mice

Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) fruits have been used traditionally for centuries, especially for treating diabetes and associated complications. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanolic extract of fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz. on alloxan induce diabetic neuropathy in mice. Metformin (120 mg/kg), Ethanolic extract (100 mg/kg), Ethyl acetate extract (25, 50mg/kg) were administer orally in alloxan (60mg/kg) induce diabetic mice. After 3 weeks of treatment blood glucose level, nociceptive threshold and motor activity were measured. Diabetic animals with lower pain thresholds compared to the non-diabetic group were considered neuropathic. Significant differences (p<0.01) between treated and control groups were observed at different aspects of diabetic neuropathy and also exhibited dose dependent antihyperglycemic activity in diabetic mice. These results suggest that Terminalia chebula Retz. has potent neuroprotective activity against alloxan induced diabetic neuropathy.