The present study was made to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of Cyathula prostrata extract in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats. Changes in biochemical parameters like aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in liver, glucose and cholesterol in serum were studied and found to be increased in alloxan induced diabetic rats. This condition was reversed by the oral administration of Methanolic Extract of Cyathula Prostrata (MECP) in Group 3 rats. Our results suggest that the extract possesses a potent medicinal agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of disorders with different aetiologies. It is characterized by derangements in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism caused by the complete or relative insufficiency of insulin secretion and insulin action (Djomeni et al., 2006). The concentration of glucose in blood depends on insulin production and utilization in normal as well as in diabetic condition by different tissues (Thakran et al., 2004). Absence of insulin effect leads to glucose overproduction and underutilization by liver. However, the insulin dependent tissues such as kidney show overutilization of glucose during diabetes because of hyperglycemia (Saltiel and Khan, 2001). Diabetes mellitus complications are microvascular complications and include nephropathy, retinopathy and macrovascular complications, includeingcardiovascular disease (Jeanette et al., 2005).

Medicinal plants continue to provide valuable therapeutic agents, both in modern medicine and in traditional system. Medicinal plants also offer good prospects to find new drugs particularly against conditions in which modern drugs are inadequate (Mansour et al., 2002). In recent times, focus on plant research has been increased all over the world and a large body of evidence has been collected to show the immense potential of medicinal plants used in various traditional systems (Rai, 1995).

The potential role of the medicinal plants as hypoglycemic agents has been reviewed by several authors, supported by the ethnobotanical surveys of traditional medicines of different cultures (Grover et al., 2002). Many Indian plants have been quoted to be useful as antidiabetic agents. They are effective with fewer side effects and less inexpensive. Hence, the Indian plants are constantly being evaluated for possible antidiabetic effect in a systematic manner.

The present study was conducted to investigate the antihyperglycemic property of Cyathula prostrata extract in alloxan induced diabetic rat, which was assessed by measuring biochemical parameters in serum and liver.

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