Ethnopharmacological relevance: Through one-to-one interaction with the traditional healers, the present study has identified 15 medicinal plant species traditionally used as remedies to control diabetes.
Materials and methods: The methanolic extracts were screened for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Hypoglycemic activity was assessed following glucose, sucrose and starch tolerance test on normal and STZ induced diabetic rats.
Results: Ficus cunia extract had the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory potency with IC50 1.39±0.74 µg mL(-1) followed by Schima wallichi (IC50 1.43±0.20 µg mL(-1)) and Wendlandia glabrata (IC50 1.67±0.33 µg mL(-1)). In STZ induced diabetic rat model, F. cunia and W glabrata extracts reduced blood glucose concentration to near normal up to 14 days when administered 48 h after STZ.
Conclusion: The present study supports the traditional use of some of these medicinal plants in anti-diabetic remedies. The present study contributes to evidence for use of traditional medicine.
Keywords: Diabetes; Ficus cunia; Wendlandia glabrata and Hypoglycemic; α-glucosidase.
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