ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ARTEMISIA NILAGIRICA (clark) IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a serious health problem with continuously increasing rates of incidence and mortality. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by elevated plasma glucose concentrations resulting from insufficient insulin and insulin resistance, or both, leading to metabolic abnormalities in carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. The primary objective of this study was to determine the anti-diabetic activity of Artemisia nilagirica (clark) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: The anti diabetic effect of ethanol extract of leaf and flowering top of Artemisia nilagirica (clark) (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally in diabetic rats. After the oral administration of ethanol extract of Artemisia nilagirica (clark), blood glucose levels were monitored at specific intervals. Results: It was found that ethanolic leaf and flower extract were significant lowered blood glucose level. In the same study the action of the extract on diabetes induced hyperlipidemia was analyzed where the extract significantly lowered the elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides (TGL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) level while increased the High density lipoprotein (HDL). Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Conclusion: The experimental data revealed that the ethanolic extract has significant antidiabetic activity in Streptozotocin-induced rats compared to the standard drug. Keywords: Artemisia nilagirica (clark), antidiabetic, glibenclamide, streptozotocin