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S N Fathima et al /International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Letters 2015 Vol. 5 (3)| 569-572

Antidiabetic Activity of Ethanolic Extract Kedrostis Foetidissim in Streptozotocin

Induced Diabetic Rats
Syeda Nishat Fathima1*, Priyanka Akinapelly1, K. Lakshman Kumar2
1
Department of Pharmacology, Jayamukhi College of Pharmacy, Narsampet, Warangal, Telangana , India, 2De-
partment of Pharmacognosy, Jayamukhi College of Pharmacy, Narsampet, Warangal, Telangana, India

ABSTRACT
Background: The ethanolic extract of leaves of Kedrostis foetidissim belonging to the family of Cucurbitaceae
was studied for antidiabetic effect in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
Methods: The ethanolic extract of leaves of Kedrostis foetidissim was prepared and blood glucose lowering effect
and improvement of body weight gain in Streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) induced diabetic rats. Gliben-
clamide an antidiabetic oral drug was used as standard in the present investigation. Rats were administered
Kedrostis foetidissim extract at the different dose level orally and the effective dose of 250 mg/kg body weight was
selected. Blood glucose level and body weight was measured by Accu-Chek Aviva Diabetes Monitoring Kit and
Electronic balance.
Results: The ethanolic extract of leaves of Kedrostis foetidissim significantly increased body weight gain and de-
creased blood glucose as compared with diabetic control.
Conclusion: The findings from the study suggest that the Kedrostis foetidissim leaves may be prescribed as an
adjunct to traditional formulation and drug treatment for controlling diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION -India is the diabetes capital of the world with a projected

Nature always stands as a golden mark to exemplify 109 million individuals with diabetes by 2035[3].Up to
the outstanding phenomena of symbiosis. Natural prod-now, many kinds of antidiabetic medicines have
ucts from plant, animal and minerals have been the been developed for the patients and most of them are
basis of the treatment of human disease. About 500 chemical or biochemical agents aiming at controlling or/
plants with medicinal use are mentioned in ancient lit-
and lo wering blood glucose to a normal level.
erature and around 800 plants have been used in indige-
Unfortunately drugs used currently not only fail to control
nous systems of medicine. India is a vast repository of
glucose levels in some patients but they frequently cause
medicinal plants that are used in traditional medicalside effects such Sulfonylureas associated with weight
treatments [1] gain and hypoglycemia, Glucophage associated with a
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by low frequency of lactic acidosis, α-glucosidase inhibitors
inherited and/or acquired deficiency in production ofcauses flatulence and thiazolidinediones produces fluid
retention, weight gain, and a normochromic, normocytic,
insulin by the pancreas, or by the ineffectiveness of the
dilutional anemia[4].In addition safety, tolerability, effi-
insulin produced, or both. Such a deficiency results in
increased concentrations of glucose in the blood, which
ciency, expenses especially in long term therapy, serum
in turn damage many of the body's systems, in particu-
drug monitoring etc. are other limitations with synthetic
lar the blood vessels and nerves [2]. Globally, as ofantidiabetic drugs.
2013, an estimated 381 million people had diabetes, Traditional systems of medicine are popular in devel-
with type 2 making up about 90% of the cases. Its oping countries and up to 80% of the population relies on
prevalence is increasing rapidly, and by 2030, this traditional medicines or folk remedies for their primary
number is estimated to almost double. health care need [5].Medicinal plants are believed to be
According to the International Diabetes Foundation
an important source of new chemical substances with
India has more diabetics than any other country in the
potential therapeutic effects. Among the traditional plants
world. According to the Indian Heart Association, used for diabetes, only a small number of these have re-
ceived scientific and medical evaluation such as Acacia
Key words: Kedrostis foetidissim, Streptozotocin, Arabica, Aegle marmelos, Allium cepa, Allium sativum,
Antidiabetic activity, Cucurbitaceae Aloe vera , Anthemis mobilis, Areca catechu, Artemisia
Received 25 April 2015; accepted 2 June 2015; pallens, Annona squamosa , Andrographis paniculata,
Aerva lanata, Asteracantha longifolia, Azadirachta in-
*Corresponding Author: Syeda Nishat Fathima dica, Biophytum sensitivum, Bombax ceiba, Beta vul-
Jayamukhi College of Pharmacy, Narsampet, Waran- garis, Brassica juncea, Barleria lupulina Lindl, Boerha-
gal, Telangana , India via diffusa, Brickellia veronicaefolia, Cassia auriculata,
Caesalpinia bonducella, Capparis decidua, Cajanus ca-
Email: syeda.nishu.fathima@gmail.com
jan, Citrullus colocynthis, Coccinia indica, Casearia
Copyright ©2011 Published by IJPSL. All rights reserved esculenta, Catharanthus roseus, Coriandrum sativum,
 S N Fathima et al /International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Letters 2015 Vol. 5 (3)| 569-572
Daucus carota L. Eugenia uniflora, Eucalyptus
globulus, Enicostemma littorale, Ficus bengalensis ,
Gymnema montanum Hook, Gymnema sylvestre , Gly-
cyrrhiza glabra, Hibiscus rosa sinensis ,Ipomoea bata-
tas, Lantana camara, Mangifera indica, Memecylon
umbellatum, Mucuna pruriens , Musa sapientum, Mo-
mordica charantia, Morus alba, Nelumbo nucifera,
Ocimum sanctum, Panax ginseng, Picrorrhiza kurroa,
Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Punica
granatum, Psacalium decompositum, Pterocarpus san-
talinus, Salacia reticulata, Salacia oblonga, Swertia
chirayita, Sida cordifolia,Trigonella foenum graecum,
Terminalia catappa, Tinospora cordifolia, Zingiber offi-
cinale, Zizyphus sativa etc., are the important
ones.Developing formulations using plants will not only
be effective for treatment of diabetes but also will be
economical and relatively safer than currently available
regimens [6].
The drugs which are extensively used in the treat-
ment of epilepsy in ayurvedic and unani system of medi-
cine are Momardica charantia [7], Coccinia indica [7],
Citrullus colocynthis [8], Cucurbita ficifolia [9], Cucu-
mis sativus [10], Momordica cymbalaria [11], Cucurbita
maxima [12], Benincasa Hispida [13], Cephalandra
indica [14] , Luffa acutangula [15],Telfairia occidentalis
[16], Citrullus lanatus[16], Lagenaria siceraria[16],
Cucurbita moschata [16],. These plants belong to the
family ofCucurbitaceae. As most of the plants from this
family possess the anti-diabetic activity so the scope of
the leaves of present plantKedrotis foetidissimpossessin-
ganti diabetic activity will be evaluated.
Kedrostis foetidissim (Jacq.)cogn, belongs to the
Cucurbitaceae family, traditional medicinal plant, lo-
cally named as nagadonda and kumkumadonda, in Te-
langana. This species was also found in India, Sri Lanka,
Ethiopia and Western Malaysia. It is an herbaceous per-
ennial plant producing annual stems up to 3 metres long
from a tuberous, perennial rootstock. It is very effective
in the treatment of asthma, chest pain and urinary tract
infection. So the present study is to evaluate the antidia-
betic activity of leaves of Kedrostis foetidissim as to
investigate its glucose lowering property in Streptozoto-
cin induced diabetic rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant Collection
The Kedrostis foetidissim plant was collected from
near Hanumakonda, Warangal District, Telangana and
was authenticated by Dr. P. Veera Reddy, Professor,
Govt. Ayurvedic College, Warangal. Fresh leaves were
washed and allowed to shade dry.
Preparation of Leaf Extract
The dried powder material (500 g) of the leaves of
Kedrostis foetidissim was extracted with 2000 ml. of
ethanol in a soxhlet apparatus for 18 hours. The ethano-
lic extract was then distilled, evaporated and dried in
vacuum. The dried residues were stored in airtight con-
tainers for further use.
Standard Drug
Glibenclamide is a sulphonylurea group used as oral
hypoglycemic drug obtained from Aventis Pharma, In-
dia.
Test Animals
Wistar albino rats of either sex, 8 to 10 week sold,
weighing about 150-200grams were used in experi-
ments. Animals were housed in polypropylene cages
maintained under standard condition (12 hours light /
dark cycle; 25± 3 0 C) and had free access to standard
rat/mice feed (Hindustan Lever Ltd., India) and water ad
libitum. All the animals were acclimatized to laboratory
condition for a week before commencement of experi-
ment. The experiments on animals were conducted in
accordance with the IAEC and CPCSEA and our proto-
cols were duly approved by the Institutional Ethical
Committee.
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening
The screening was performed for alkaloids, carbo-
hydrates, proteins, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, gly-
cosides, fixed oils, steroids and triterpenoids. The color
intensity or the precipitate formation was used as ana-
lytical responses to these tests [17] [18].
Acute Toxicity Studies
A preliminary pharmacological study was con-
ducted to assess the gross behavioral effects and safety
effects of the drug. The rats of either sex weighing be-
tween 150-200 grams were fasted overnight prior to the
experiment, fixed dose method was adopted as per
OECD Guideline No 423: (Annexure -2) of CPCSEA.
[19] Then the animal was observed continuously for
four hours. LD50 was calculated by the Miller and
Tainter method. In which the observed percentage mor-
tality was converted into probits. The values thus ob-
tained were plotted against log dose and the LD50 was
calculated which the dose was corresponding to probit 5.
One tenth of this dose was selected for the study of
antidiabetic activity [20].
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Induction of Diabetics
The animals were grouped and left for fasting over-
night. Streptozotocin (STZ) solution of 10 mg/ml was
prepared in ice-cold citrate buffer 0.2M; pH 4.5 kept in
an ice bath and was administered immediately at a dose
of 50 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. The rats
were maintained on 5 % glucose solution for next 24h to
prevent hypoglycemia. Five days later blood samples
will be drawn from tail vein and blood glucose levels
were determined to confirm the development of diabetes
(150-250mg/dl).The treatment was started on 2ndday
onwards and continued for 14 days [21] [22].
Experimental design
Animals were divided into four groups of six rats each.
Standard pellet diet and water was provided ad libitum
to the animals.
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 S N Fathima et al /International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Letters 2015 Vol. 5 (3)| 569-572
Group I : Normal healthy rats given only vehicle (5 ml/
kg of normal saline)
Group II : Diabetic control mice(1% gum acacia and 5  Normal control rats were found to be stable in their body
ml/kg of normal saline)
Group III : Diabetic rats were given single dose of etha-
nolic leaf extract of extract of Kedrostis foetidissim (250
mg/kg body weight) 1ml with vehicle by oral admini-
stration daily.
Group IV : Diabetic mice were given a single dose of
glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight) 1ml with vehicle
by oral administration daily.
The administration of extracts will be continued for 14
days, once daily. Blood samples will be collected
through the tail vein just prior to and on 1,7 and 14 days
2 hours after drug administration. Blood glucose level
and body weight were measured by Accu-Chek Aviva
Diabetes Monitoring Kit and Electronic balance.
Statistical analysis
Values were expressed as Mean ± standard error of the
mean. The Significance of differences among the group
was assessed using one way analysis of variance
(ANOVA). The test followed by Student’s t-test p val-
ues less than 0.05 were considered as statistically sig-
nificant [23].
RESULT
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening
The preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis of
ethanolic extract of Kedrostis foetidissim showed the
presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, amino acids, fla-
vonoids, saponins, steroids, glycosides, fats and oils and
steroids.
Acute Toxicity Studies
The ethanolic extract of Kedrostis foetidissim was
found to be safe at the maximum dose of 2000mg/kg
body Oral route. After 48 hours, rats were found to be
well tolerated. There was no mortality and no signs of
toxicity. The Ld50 value was found to be 2511.88 mg/kg
by oral route.
Antidiabetic activity
Changes in blood glucose levels and body weight in
normal, diabetic, treatment of diabetic mice with ethano-
lic leaf extract of Kedrostis foetidissim and glibencla-
mide are presented in Table1. Daily treatments of etha-
nolic extract of Kedrostis foetidissim (250 mg/kg bw)
for14 days lead to significant (P<0.05) fall in blood
glucose levels compared with diabetic control rats.
weight, whereas in case of diabetic control there was a
decrease in body weight. This decrease in body weight
was significantly diminished by the extract and standard
glibenclamide. The above levels suggest that the extract
exhibited significant antidiabetic activity in Streptozoto-
cin induced diabetic rats as evident from blood glucose
levels and body weight. This activity may be due to
presence of secondary metabolites i.e., alkaloids, flavon-
oids, steroids, glycosides and reducing sugars.
DISCUSSION
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized
by high blood glucose levels due to an absolute or rela-
tive deficiency of circulating insulin levels. In the pre-
sent study, diabetic rats exhibited a significant increase
in plasma glucose level. The increased glucose level
might be due to the fact that Streptozotocin causes nota-
ble degranulation or reduction in insulin release by the
destruction of pancreatic β‐cells thereby interferes with
cellular metabolic oxidative mechanisms
[24]
.Glibenclamide is often used as a standard antidia-
betic drug in STZ induced moderate diabetes to compare
the efficacy of variety of hypoglycemic compounds or
plant extracts. We have observed a significant decrease
in glucose level in ethanolic extract of Kedrostis foeti-
dissim treated diabetic rats when compared with non‐
treated diabetic rats. The possible mechanism of hypo-
glycemic action may be through potentiating of pancre-
atic secretion of insulin from beta cells of islets or due to
enhanced transport of blood glucose to the peripheral
tissue or reduced metabolism of insulin.
CONCLUSION
The present observation provide evidence that ethano-
lic extract of leaves of Kedrostis foetidissim exhibited
antidiabetic or hypoglycemic activity on Streptozotocin
induced diabetic rats may be mediated by an increase in
Insulin secretion, liver glycogen and peripheral glucose
uptake like in Glibenclamide treated diabetic rats. How-
ever, the exact mechanism and the active principle by
which this extract exert its action remain unclear. Fur-
ther studies are required to study the individual mecha-
nism of action.

Table 1: Changes in blood glucose levels and body weight in control, diabetic and diabetic mice treated with etha-
nolic leaf extract of Kedrostis foetidissim and glibenclamide.
Group Blood glucose (mg/dL) Body weight (g)
Day 0 Day 7 Day 14 Day 0 Day 7 Day 14
Control 72.25±0.89 73.75 ± 0.85 74.26±2.41 161.7±3.27 163.4±2.36 166.8±4.59
Diabetic Control 185.2±2.88 189.32±1.36 191.51±3.41 160.5±2.34 140.2±4.27 131.4±3.84
Extract 192.7± 2.6 148.71± 1.1* 129.6 ± 3.2* 157.6±4.51 159.6±2.64* 163.6±3.72*
Glibenclamide 194.75±2.84 110.56±5.24* 98.29±1.48* 164.8±5.12 169.4±3.57* 172.7±2.37*

Values are Mean ± SEM (n=6); *P< 0.05 (compared with diabetic control using ANOVA followed by Student’s t-test)

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