Supplementation with a polyherbal extract and melatonin together with exercise effectively reverses diabetic glycaemic status and carbohydrate metabolism and insulin level

Abstract

In the present study, a multi-dimensional therapeutic approach for combating experimentally induced Type I diabetes using polyherbal therapy with melatonin supplementation and an exercise regimen (S+M+PE) is employed in both diabetic (DC) and non diabetic (NC) animals. Adult albino rats were made diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (120 mg / kg body weight). After a duration of 7 days, animals with a blood glucose level of 300 mg / dl or higher were considered diabetic. Control and experimental animals were subjected to swimming exercise together with administration of melatonin and PE for a further duration of 15 days and, upon sacrifice, various parameters related to glycaemic status and carbohydrate metabolism were evaluated. Results revealed a much better glycaemic regulation and carbohydrate metabolism. The glucose clearance rates of DC.S+M+PE animals under both glucose challenge and exogenous insulin were much greater than both NC and DC animals. Observed increase in insulin levels in both NC and DC animals subjected to S+M+PE was an indicative of observed near normal glucoregulation with combination therapy. S+M+PE exerted favourable influence on glucose uptake and utilization by way of increased insulin titre and sensitivity as well as up regulation of GLUT-4. In conclusion it can be said that S+M+PE is an effective combination therapy exerting effective glucoregulation and correction of carbohydrate metabolism.