Hypoglycaemic Effect of Turmeric in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a syndrome of persistent hyperglycaemia, caused by absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. Diabetes is an advancing disease if uncontrolled and can lead to various macrovascular and microvascular compli-cations. Alloxan, a pyrimidine derivative is a potent diabetogenic agent used to develop type-I diabetes in animal models. Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) is a medicinal plant having antioxidant properties.
Objective: To determine hypoglycaemic effect of turmeric in diabetic rats and to compare serum glucose levels among groups.
Methodology: In this study alloxan (intraperito-neal, 150mg/kg body weight) was used to produce animal models of type-I diabetes. An experimental animal study was conducted on forty five albino rats. Animals were divided into three groups with fifteen animals each (normal control group A, diabetic untreated group B and diabetic group C treated with turmeric powder).Turmeric was given daily orally through 5cc disposable syringe (oral gavage method)in a dosage of 300mg/kg body-wt. dissolved in 4 ml distilled water per rat to all the 15 group C diabetic albino rats following one week after induction of diabetes. Blood samples of animals were taken from saphenous vein after overnight fasting at zero day (one week following induction of diabetes in groups B and C), by the end of 8th week and by the end of 12th week respectively. Commercially available Human kits were used to find out serum glucose levels by glucose oxidase method. Analysis of data was done by using SPSS version 18.0.
Results: Significantly elevated levels of serum glucose were found after alloxan administration. Administration of turmeric in dosage of 300mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks to group C diabetic animals showed significant improvements in serum glucose levels towards normal.
Conclusion: Turmeric powder possesses hypoglycemic effects.