Abstract

Withania coagulans (Indian cheese maker, Paneer dodi) is an important medicinal plant.  In view of its varied therapeutic potential, it has also been the subject of numerous pharmacological investigations. The effect of aqueous extract of W. coagulans on insulin sensitivity in Poloxamer-407 (PX-407) induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats was evaluated. The extract of W. coagulans (150 and 200 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally once a day for 5 weeks after the animals were confirmed diabetic (that is, 75 days after PX-407 injection). A group of citrate control rats (Group I) were also maintained. A significant increase in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA₁c), and serum insulin levels were observed in control rats. Treatment with W. coagulans extract reduced the elevated levels of blood glucose, HbA₁c, and insulin in T2DM rats. In oral glucose tolerance test, we found a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in the rats treated with W. coagulans extract. The insulin sensitivity, that is, both peripheral and hepatic insulin resistance was assessed. W. coagulans extract treatment significantly improved insulin sensitivity index (K_ITT) that was decreased in control rats. There was considerable rise in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-R) in control rats, whereasW. coagulans extract treatment significantly prevented the rise in HOMA-R in T2DM-treated rats. Our data suggest that aqueous extract of W. coagulans extract (200 mg/kg body weight) normalizes hyperglycemia in T2DM rats by improving insulin sensitivity.

Key words: Antidiabetic, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance.