Suvankar Mondal, Sanjib Bhattacharya and Moulisha Biswas

Abstract

Areca catechu L. (Palmaceae), commonly known as Areca nut in English, is a perennial tree occurring throughout the Indian subcontinent and used traditionally for several medicinal purposes. The present study was expected to evaluate anti diabetic activity of petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of A. catechu leaf in Wister rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg body weight). After STZ induction, the hyperglycemic rats were treated with all three extracts orally at the dose 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg b. w., p.o.) was used as reference drug. The fasting blood glucose levels were measured on every 5th day during the 15 day treatment. All the extracts at 200 mg/kg orally significantly (p < 0.001) exhibited anti diabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats by reducing and normalizing the elevated fasting blood glucose levels as compared to those of STZ control group. The methanol extract was most active. The present study concludes that A. catechu leaf confirmed promising anti diabetic activity in STZ-induced diabetic Wister rats.