Pharmacognostic and anti-hyperglycemic evaluation of Lantana camara (L.) var. aculeate leaves in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats

Lantana camara (L.) var. aculeate (family: Verbenaceae) commonly called as wild sage is large scrambling evergreen, strong smelling shrub with stout recurred prickles; leaves opposite, often rugose, scabrid on both sides. A survey on recent literature, it is clear that diabetes is a challenging metabolic disorder to mankind. Currently many researchers have been envisaged on medicinal plants to establish more effective antidiabetic drug. We had put some effort in this direction to strengthen the research. Hence, the present study aims to open new avenues for the improvement of medicinal uses of Lantana camara (L.) for the selected area for diabetes. It was also our aim to establish the correct identity of the selected plant through pharmacognostic study. Ash value, extractive value, loss on drying and fluorescence analysis was also carried out to characterise the crude drug. Oral administration of the methanol extract of Lantana camara (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, showed significant (P<0.01) reduction in the blood glucose concentration in dose dependent manner. Treatment with extract (400 mg/kg) decreased blood glucose level to 121.94 mg/dl. Body weight significantly (P<0.05) increased to normal after treatment with extract and it was found effective in oral glucose tolerance test as it decreased the elevated level of glucose after one hour. The biochemical parameters like triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein were investigated and extract was found effective against diabetes induced hyperlipidemia. Present study demonstrated that methanol extract of Lantana camata (L.) leaves exhibit promising anti-hyperglycemic activity against alloxan-induced diabetic rats.