To meet the strong demand of colchicine an attempt is made to optimize the solvent system for isolation of colchicine. Gloriosa superba dried seed powder was extracted by using different solvents. Maximum yield of colchicine was obtained when extracted with water and alcohol in the ratio of 50 : 50.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of the whole plant of Andrographis echioides as antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effect in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar albino rats by administration of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg). The A. echioides at a dose of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg of body weight was administrated at single dose per day to diabetes induced rats for a period of 14 days. The effect of A. echioides on blood glucose, insulin, urea, creatinine, HbA1C, serum protein, albumin, globulin, serum enzymes [Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], serum lipid profile, [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and lipidperoxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in the diabetic rats. The A. echioides elicited significant reduction of blood glucose, lipid parameters except HDL-C, serum enzymes and LPO and significantly reduced insulin, HDL-C, SOD, CAT, GPX and GSH at the dose of 400mg/kg which was compared with the diabetic control. From the above results, it is concluded that ethanol extract of A. echioides whole plant possesses significant antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats.