HYPOGLYCAEMIC EFFECT OF VRIDDHADARU IN ALLOXANINDUCED DIABETIC RABBITS

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is the most important non communicable disease, playing a notorious role in
the devastating phase of public health. Ayurveda, the life science provides astonishing results
in such life style disorders. Vriddhadaru an excellent Ayurvedic drug and Argyreia nervosa has
been traditionally used as Vriddhadaru, efective in diabetic management with promising
results. But, the anti-diabetic effect of the drug has not been scientifically appreciated. This
study ascertains the hypoglycaemic effect of the drug in a pre-clinical model. In this study,
alloxan induced 18 diabetic albino rabbits were divided into 3 groups with 6 rabbits in each
group. On the day of experiment, after assessing the fasting blood sugar levels in all 18 rabbits,
root powder of the test drug as CMC suspension in the dose of 0.56 g/kg body weight and the
standard drug, metformin; in the dose of 0.024 mg/kg body weight were administered to the
first group and second group respectively. The third group was kept as control and
administered with distilled water alone. Later, the blood glucose values were taken at 1st, 3rd
and 5th hour and the obtained values were compared with in the group and between the groups.
The blood glucose levels were compared using paired t test for within the group analysis and by
student t test for between the group analysis. Within the group comparison of blood sugar level
in group 1 showed significant decrease in the level at 1st hour and 5th hour from the
corresponding fasting blood sugar levels. In group 2, significant decrease of blood sugar level
was seen between fasting blood sugar level and 1st hour value and also in fasting blood sugar
value and 5th hour value. Between group comparison of group group 2 showed significant
difference in the reducing the blood sugar level at different time intervals. Ayurvedic literature
proposes Pramehaghna property to the drug Vriddhadaru which is substantiated through this
pre-clinical trial. But the effect is comparatively less with that of the standard drug. This may
be due to the absence of strong antioxidant and antidiabetic chemical constituents in this plant.
From the above study, it is inferred that Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Boj. is less effective in
reducing blood sugar levels in Alloxan induced diabetic rabbits against the standard drug
Metformin.