Assessment of the Antidiabetic Potential of Piper Chaba Stem Extract in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetes in Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Piper chaba, belongs to the family Piperaceae and is an inhabitant of West Bengal, India. The unripe fruits show various pharmacological activities due to the presence of Piperine. There is no previously reported work on the antidiabetic activity of the P. chaba stem.

Objective: The present research work is carried out to examine the antidiabetic potential of P. chaba stem extract in both in vitro and in vivo diabetic models.

Methods: In this research work, the methanolic extraction of the P. chaba stem was done using a cold maceration process. α-Amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays were performed to assess the in vitro antidiabetic activity. Further, in vivo antidiabetic activity was studied using a streptozotocin- nicotinamide-induced diabetic model in rats.

Results: The methanolic extract of P. chaba stem (PCME) shows good antidiabetic potential in both α- amylase (IC50:108.89 µg/ml) and α- glucosidase (IC50: 127.28 µg/ml) as compared to their respective standard. Further, the methanolic extract showed no acute toxicity in the rat before the experiment. The chronic study of the PCME extract in two different doses (200 mg/kg b.w. & 400 mg/kg b.w.) and standard oral hypoglycemic drug Metformin (70 mg/kg b.w.) after induction of diabetes using STZ-nicotinamide injection followed up for 21 days, shows a significant lowering in the rise blood glucose level and it also helps to maintain the uncontrollable weight loss in diabetic rats. The PCME regulates the serum parameters in the diabetic group which helps in increasing haemoglobin and other blood counts. In addition, the abnormal levels of lipid peroxides and glutathione in the liver tissues were restored to those of the control rats. These results show that PCME possesses good antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

Conclusion: PCME showed potent antidiabetic properties against STZ-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.