Hypoglycaemic activity of Nelumbo nucifera gaertn. (Fam. Nymphaeaceae) rhizome (methanolic extract) in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

Abstract

The hypoglycaemic effect of the rhizome extract of Nelumbo nucifera was studied in streptomtwin-induced diabetic rats. A methanol extract of the plant obtained by soxhlet extraction from finely pulverized rhizomes was used. The LD9 of the extract was found to be 2 g/kg. The extract (300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg, orally) caused a reduction of blood glucose levels in streptomtocin-induced diabetic rats by 53% (p<O.OOl) and 55% (p< 0.001) respectively at the end of 12 h. The results of this study indicate that the methanol extract of the rhizome possesses favourable hypoglycaemic activity in hyperglycaemic animals taking chlorpropamide as a standard.

Leads from Indian medicinal plants with hypoglycemic potentials

“…markedly reduced the blood sugar level of normal, glucose-fed hyperglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The extract also found to improve glucose tolerance and potentiated the action of exogenously injected insulin in normal rats (Mukherjee et al, 1995(Mukherjee et al, , 1997.…”

Antioxidant activity of Nelumbo nucifera (sacred lotus) seeds

“…al., 1996b), antipyretic (Mukherjee et al, 1996c), antimicrobial (Mukherjee et al, 1995b,c;Mukherjee, 2002), hypoglycemic (Mukherjee et al, 1995d). Antioxidant activity of various parts of Nelumbo nucifera is well established, e.g.…”

Immunomodulatory potential of rhizome and seed extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.

“…Our previous studies have shown various pharmacological potential of the rhizome extract of Nelumbo nucifera, viz. hypoglycaemic, antidiarrhoeal, antimicrobial, diuretic, antipyretic, psychopharmacological, antiinflammatory activities (Mukherjee et al, 1995a(Mukherjee et al, ,b,c,d, 1996a(Mukherjee et al, ,b,c, 1997. Seed of the plant also proved to have several therapeutic potential including anti-ischemic (Kim et al, 2006), antioxidant , hepatoprotective (Sohn et al, 2003), antiproliferative (Liu et al, 2004), anti-inflammatory (Lin et al, 2006) activity.…”