Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: We investigated the effect of Dorstenia picta methanolic residue extract on blood glucose levels and some biochemical parameters in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Single oral administration of the extract at a dose of 75 mg/kg, significantly, reduced the blood glucose levels by 23.74 % and 29.79 %, in normal and diabetic rats, respectively after 5 hours. In glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the extract (75 mg/kg) produced a significant blood glucose lowering effect. Repeated doses of distilled water, insulin, 75 and 150 mg/kg of extract were administered orally and once daily to normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 14 consecutive days. D. picta and insulin prevented body weight lost, polyphagia and polydipsia, as well as a significant (p <0.01) decreased in blood glucose at the dose of 75 mg/kg (53.88 %) and 150 mg/kg (81.96 %). There was also significant decrease of elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides in both normal and diabetic rats. At these doses, reductions of plasma alanine and aspartate transaminase levels were recorded in both normal and diabetic rats but creatinine and total protein remained unchanged. These data indicated that D. picta treatment may improve glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin-induced diabetes which could be linked to insulin-like activity and ameliorate kidney and liver functions. D. picta twigs have antidiabetic effect and could be a potential source of new oral antidiabetic drug.

Key words: Dorstenia picta, diabetes, streptozotocin, hypoglycemic activity