Antihyperglycemic activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Objective: To evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Materials and Methods: Alloxan-induced (70 mg/kg, i.v.) diabetic mice were given aqueous leaf extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, p.o., n= 6) of C. hirsutus or vehicle (distilled water, 10 ml/kg, p.o.) or standard drug glyburide (10 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. Blood samples were withdrawn by retro-orbital puncture and were analyzed for serum glucose on 0th, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days by glucose oxidase/peroxidase method. In oral glucose tolerance test, glucose (2.5 g/kg, p.o.) was administered to nondiabetic control, glyburide (10 mg/kg, p.o.), and aqueous extract of C. hirsutus (1000 mg/kg, p.o.) treated mice. The serum glucose level was analyzed at 0, 30, 60, and 120 min after drug administration. Results: The aqueous leaf extract of C. hirsutus (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant ( P< 0.01) reduction of serum glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice at 28th day. In oral glucose tolerance test, aqueous extract of C. hirsutus increased the glucose tolerance. Conclusion: It is concluded that C. hirsutus has significant antihyperglycemic activity as it lowers serum glucose level in diabetic mice and significantly increases glucose tolerance.