Diabetic amelioration by poly herbal supplement and exercise: studies on type – I diabetic rat model

Abstract

Ayurvedic remedies for diabetes are usually mixed formulations containing blood sugar lowering herbs in combination with immunomodulators, diuretics and detoxicants, with the rationale behind such formulations being provided by modern research. The plants for the present study were selected on the basis of their anti-diabetic property, as these plants are consumed by the local people for treatment of diabetes as also supported by literature survey. Plants like Annona squamosa(Annonaceae), Cassia fistula, Coccinia indica, Mangifera indica, Ocimum sanctum, Lagerstroemia losflos-reginee, and Murraya koenigii used in the present study have been known to have same blood glucose lowering effect in diabetic animals and, some of them have an anti-lipidemic and cholesterol lowering effects too. To this effect, adult albino rats were made diabetic (DC) by a single i.p injection of alloxan (120 mg / kg body weight). Animals having blood glucose level of 300 mg / dl or higher were considered diabetic. Control and experimental animals were supplemented with the extract (PE) subjected to swimming exercise(s) of 30 minutes duration for 15 days. Animals were sacrificed on the 16th day and various parameters related to glycaemic status and carbohydrate metabolism were evaluated. The results of the present study showed significant favorable effect of S+PE in non-diabetic as well as diabetic rats. In terms of glycaemic regulation, neither PE nor PE+S showed any significant effect either on fasting or fed glycaemic level in non-diabetic animals while, both were equally effective in minimizing diabetic hyperglycaemia to the same extent. In DC animals, both PE and S+PE improved the insulin status. There was increased hepatic and muscle glycogen contents in both NC and DC animals treated with PE or also subjected to exercise. The increased tissue glycogen load and glucose clearance from blood are paralleled by significant decrement in tissue glycogen phosphorylase activity. There was decrement in cytosolic GLUT 4 level in NC.PE and NC.S+PE animals and significant increment in expression in DC.PE and DC.S+PE animals over that of the low level in DC animals. Overall, the present study provides support and evidence for consideration of a therapeutic approach combining the beneficial effects of a polyherbal preparation in association with adaptive physical activity for effective management of diabetic complications.