Abstract

Diabetes causes increased oxidative stress, which is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of various diabetic complications. The antioxidant actions are keys to preventing or reversing diabetes and its complications. Thus the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of ethanolic Murraya koenigii leaves (MKL) extract on Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) as index of lipid peroxidation and on the glycemic control in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Effect of oral administration of MKL (300 and 500 mg/kg) on the level of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, on TBARS and glycogen levels were estimated in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug. The elevated level of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, TBARS observed in diabetic rats were significantly altered compared to control but it not come to normal level after treatment with MKL for 15 days in diabetic rats. From the results it suggest that the ethanolic extract of M. koenigii possessed potent antioxidant properties which may be due to the presence of biological active ingredient such as carbazole alkaloids, glycoside, triterpenoids and phenolic compounds. Thus the antidiabetic activity of M. koenigii leaves was probably due to the presence of its antioxidant property.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Murraya koenigii, antioxidant.