Evaluation of anti hyperglycemic and anti lipid peroxidative effect of costus igneus nak in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Medicinal plants have been reported to play an important role in modulating glycemic responses and has preventive and therapeutic implications for certain conditions such as diabetes, hyperlipedemia etc. Costus igneus. Nak known to possess hypoglycemic effect was supplemented to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and compared with that of conventional hypoglycemic agents (Insulin and Glibenclamide). Costus igneus powder at a level of 500mg/kg body weight, reduced blood glucose in the animals by 37% after 45 days of supplementation. Oral administration of Costus igneus powder significantly reversed the activity of the enzymes glucose - 6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-P DH) and aldolase in the liver of experimental groups. The activity of aldolase in the liver of Costus igneus powder and Insulin treated groups was 0.19u/g and in Glibenclamide treated group the activity was 0.18u/g protein. The activities of AsAT and AlAT decreased significantly in animals treated with Costus, Insulin and glibenclimide. It was also observed that total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly low in Costus igneus treated group compared to other groups. The results prove that Costus could effectively reduce the blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and also reverse the activity of elevated enzymes which can prove beneficial in the management of hyperglycemia.