Anti-diabetic Activity of Methanol Leaf Extract of Costus pictus D.DON in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

The methanol extract of Costus pictus (C. pictus )D .DON (Family: Zingiberaceae) leaf was investigated for its anti-diabetic effect in Wistar Albino rats. Diabetes was induced in Albino rats by administration of single doses of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p.). The methanol extract of C. pictus (MECP) at a dose of 120 mg/kg, p.o. was administered as single dose per day to diabetes-induced rats for a period of 21 days. The effect of MECP leaf extract on blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum lipid profile [cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, very lowdensity lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)], serum enzymes [serum glutamate oxaloacetat et ransaminases (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvat et ransaminases (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], total protein, and liver glycogen were measured in the diabetic rats. Histopathological studies of liver, pancreas and kidney were also carried out. MECP elicited significant ( p < 0.001) reductions of blood glucose, lipid parameters except HDL, and serum enzymes and significantly ( p < 0.001) increased HDL level. MECP also caused significant ( p < 0.001) increases in plasma insulin levels in the diabetic rats. Furthermore, MECP significantly ( p < 0.05), ( p < 0.001) increased total protein and liver glycogen in diabetic rats. Histopathological observations revealed that leaf is non-toxic and regenerates the toxic effect of alloxan. From the above results, it is concluded that MECP possesses significant anti-diabetic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.