Hypoglycemic Potential of Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855 in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

A study of ancient literature indicates that diabetes mellitus was fairly well known as an entity in India and it is one of the major diseases currently affecting millions of people worldwide. Marine organisms have been recognized as rich sources of bioactive compounds with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potentials. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the hypoglycemic potential of ethanolic extract of Ascidia sydneiensis in alloxan induced diabetic rats with stress on diabetic complications. Oral glucose tolerance, haematological parameters (insulin, glucose, urea, creatinine and glycosylated haemoglobin), serum biochemical, lipid parameters (protein, albumin, globulin, SGPT, SGOT, ALP, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, PL) and the level of antioxidant enzymes in plasma (LPO, SOD, CAT, GPX, GSH, GR) were analysed following standard procedures. Administration of the extract at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight was compared with control and standard drug Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). The group treated with 200 mg/kg showed potent antidiabetic activity. The ethanol extract of Ascidia sydneiensis elicited significant reductions of blood glucose, urea, creatinine, HbAlc, serum enzymes (SGPT, SGOT and ALP), lipid parameters (TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and PL), antioxidant enzyme LPO and significant increase of insulin, protein, albumin, globulin, HDL-C, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX, GSH and GR) compared to control. The serum blood parameters of creatinine and biochemical parameters of protein, albumin and globulin were approaching normal values. Concurrent histological studies of the pancreas showed regeneration on treatment with the extract. From the above results, it is concluded that the ethanolic extract of Ascidia sydneiensis possesses significant hypoglycemic potential against alloxan induced diabetic rats.