Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting almost 25% of the world's population.The pretentious worldwide increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus is posturing a huge health problem in both developed and developing countries. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder which is manifested by polyuria, polyphagia, polydipsia, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia and is still one of the most leading causes of disability and death. Oral hypoglycemic agent and insulin are common treatment of diabetes but these treatments have prominent side effects. In the recent years the use ofherbal medicines has increased for the treatment of diabetes and fascinated the consideration ofmany researchers all over the world. Citrullus colocynthis is used commonly in different parts of the world for the treatment of a number of diseases including diabetes, jaundice, leprosy, cancer, asthma, bronchitis, joint pain and mastitis. In the present study I evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of roots of Citrullus colocynthis and also the dose dependent anti-diabetic effects of medicine in alloxan induced diabetic rats.
Twenty-five adult male rats were divided into five groups; Negative control, Positive control, and 3 groups for different treatment dose of roots of Citrulllus colocynthis (200 mg/kg body weight, BW), Citrulllus colocynthis (300 mg/kg BW) and Citrulllus colocynthis (500 mg/kg BW). Diabetes induction had done in four groups, other than negative control (normal saline injected), by subcutaneous administration of alloxan (120 mg/kg BW). Blood glucose level of rats reached above 250mg/dl considered as hyperglycemic. Treatment was given to all groups excluding control negativefor 21 days. Body weight of rats of all groups was recorded weekly. After completing 21 days of treatment with different doses of roots of Citrullus colocynthis blood samples were collected in fasting condition from rats of each group by cardiac punctureunder general anesthesia. Serum was collected from blood to measure serum glucose level, serum lipid profile, liver function test and renal function test.
Result data was analyzed by using SPSS software. Data was analyzed by using one-way ANOVA. The group differences were compared by the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Differences was considered significant at P < 0.05.
The obtained results showed that roots of Citrullus colocynthis has efficiency to control the diabetes mellitus by reducing serum glucose levels as well as the increasing dose decreased the serum glucose levels. Only 500mg/kg body weight dose is efficient to reduce the muscle wastage due to diabetes in alloxan induce diabetic rats. This dose also works tomaintain the serum ALT, AST, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol and triglycerides, HDL-C LDL-C levels.
The data obtained from this study also show the dose dependent anti-diabetic activity of medicine as the dose of 500mg/kg body weight is more effective to control the diabetes as compared to other two doses; 200mg/kg body weight and 300mg/kg body weight.