Hypoglycaemic and anti-oxidant activity of Salacia oblonga Wall. extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The petroleum ether extract of the root bark of S. oblonga Wall. (Celastraceae) (SOB) was studied in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats and anti-lipid peroxidative activity of the same was studied in the cardiac tissue. SOB prevented significantly the streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia and hypoinsulinaemia. It also produced a significant decrease in peroxidation products viz. thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (P < 0.001), conjugated dienes (P < 0.05), hydroperoxides (P < 0.001). The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (P < 0.001), catalase (P < 0.001), GSHPxase and GSSGRase was found to be increased in the heart tissue of diabetic animals treated with SOB. These results suggest that S. oblonga root bark extract possesses anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative activity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.