Anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant status of Loranthus pulverulentus obtained from two different hosts

Abstract

<p class="Abstract">Leaves of<em> Loranthus pulverulentus</em> have been used ethnically in Pakistan for controlling blood glucose levels. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant potential of the methanolic extracted fractions of <em>L. pulverulentus</em> obtained from two different hosts’ viz. <em>Dalbergia sissoo</em> and <em>Populus nigra</em>. The acute study demonstrated that <em>L. pulverulentus</em> (<em>D. sissoo</em>) leaves possess significant blood glucose lowering effect whereas <em>L. pulverulentus</em> (<em>P. nigra</em>) was didn’t significantly decreased blood glucose levels. The n-butanol fraction of <em>L. pulverulentus</em> (<em>D. sissoo</em>) also significantly increased<em> in vivo</em> total anti-oxidant activity on eighth day after treatment and blood glucose levels were significantly reduced (%46.7) when compared to the control diabetic group (%↑198.1) and metformin treated group (%↓25.9). Leaves of <em>L. pulverulentus</em> (<em>D. sissoo</em>) have good margin of safety as therapeutic index is 3.5. This study provides scientific evidence that leaves of<em> L. pulverulentus</em> (<em>D. sissoo</em>) possess potential anti-diabetic activity whereas <em>L. pulverulentus</em> (<em>P. nigra</em>) was not found effective in diabetic illness.</p><p> </p>