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The leaves and bark of Cassia glauca Lam., a glabrous tree in the family Fabaceae, are used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extract of C. glauca bark. The various parameters that were studied in treated or untreated normoglycemic and STZ-induced diabetic rats included the effect of the aqueous extract on oral glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose, body weight, serum lipids, liver glycogen, serum insulin, and glycosylated haemoglobin. Oral administration of the aqueous extract of C. glauca bark at a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly reduced the effect of external glucose load. In a chronic treatment model, aqueous extract and glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg) were administered for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, there was a significant increase in liver glycogen, serum insulin, and HDL cholesterol for both treatments. A significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, total cholesterol, and serum triglycerides was also observed. The body weights of the animals were observed to be consistent throughout the study. The findings showed the significant antidiabetic potential of the extract in ameliorating the diabetic condition in the diabetic rats. No significant activity was found in the normoglycemic rats.

In spite of tremendous advances in the field of medicine, there is no truly satisfactory drug for the treatment of renal calculi. In the present study, the efficacy of the root bark of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) as an antiurolithiatic agent was investigated using an experimentally induced urolithiatic rat model. Hyperoxaluria was induced in rats using 0.75% ethylene glycol in water. Aqueous (AqE) (200 mg kg −1 body weight) and alcoholic extracts (AlcE) (200 mg kg −1 body weight) of the root bark of M. oleifera were given orally in curative and preventive regimens over a period of 28 days. Both the extracts significantly (P < 0.001) lowered the urinary excretion and kidney retention levels of oxalate, calcium and phosphate. Moreover, elevated serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by the extracts. The results were comparable with the standard drug, cystone (750 mg kg −1 body weight). The reduction of stone forming constituents in urine and their decreased kidney retention reduces the solubility product of crystallizing salts such as calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, which could contribute to the antiurolithiatic property of root bark of M. oleifera.

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