Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate antidiabetic activity of ethanolic and aqueous seed extracts of Caesalpinia crista linn. in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in 2 days old pups models. The seeds were collected, authenticated and shade dried. Shade dried seeds were then grinded into coarse powder and processed for further studies. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared and the preliminary phytochemical screening was performed. Ethanolic and aqueous both extracts were evaluated for the antidiabetic activity by using the streptozotocin induced diabetes in 2 days old pups model. After 3 months of streptozotocin administration, pups become diabetic and then further protocol was proceeded. Estimation of biological parameters like serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride were performed and body weight, water intake and food intake were also recorded after 3 weeks of treatment. Histopathological study was performed to study the structure of islets of pancreas in different group of animals. There was a significant decrease in the biological parameters that is, serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride when compared with diabetic untreated group after 3 weeks treatment plant extracts. Treatment with the extracts also affected the physical parameters like decrease in body weight, increase in demand of food intake and water intake when compared with diabetic untreated group. Histopathological study shows the changes in structure of islets of pancreas in different groups of animals. Hence, it can be concluded that in the above study, both ethanolic and aqueous seed extracts of C. crista linn. showed antidiabetic activity, but the aqueous extract of C. crista linn. showed more significant effect as compared to the ethanolic extract.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, streptozotocin (STZ), Caesalpinia cristalinn., ethanolic and aqueous extracts.