Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of leaf extract of pluchea indica Less

The hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Pluchea indica Less. (Asteraceae) (MEPI) leaves were studied in normal rats and in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats respectively. The blood glucose levels were measured at 1, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h intervals after the treatment. The MEPI leaves showed reduction in blood glucose level in normal (35.12% and 36.01 % for 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. respectively) and in steptozotocin induced diabetic rats (36.10% and 41.87% for 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively). A toxicity study has been performed for the extract, which revealed that the extract is safe to use even at the doses of 3.2 gm/kg of body weight orally.