ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC ACTIVITY OF CITRUS LIMON LEAVES IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Citrus limon leaves is a traditional herbal medicine which is used as a munching dietary supplement for the management of diabetes in parts of Kerala. However there is no evidence supporting the claim. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of Citrus limon leaves extract against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Aqueous extract of Citrus limon leaf with the doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days from 3rd day after STZ induction and the results were compared to those for glibenclamide. A decrease in body weight and plasma insulin levels and an increase in blood glucose levels were observed in STZ induced diabetic rats. However, these diabetic changes were significantly and dose dependently inhibited by treatment with Citrus limon leaves extract. This study focus the efficacy of this extract for the management of experimental diabetes in rat model which may shed some light on the scientific basis of ancient herbal therapy.