EVALUATION OF ANTI DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF ICHNOCARPUS FRUTESCENS L.

The plant Ichnocarpus frutescens L. is from the family Apocynaceae, which extensively cultivated in most regions of the world and common avenue tree, commonly called as black creeper in English .The literature survey reveals that Ichnocarpus frutescens L.roots has been used as tonic, diuretic, demulcent, diaphoretic and anti diabetic.Young stems and leaves are also used for diabetes. Young stems and leaves contain triterpenoids, α –amyrin, acetalupeol and its acetates, friedelin, epifriedelinol and β-sitosterol. Flowers and fruits contain flavonoids-Quercetin, Kaepferol-3-glucoside. The Ethanolic and Aqueous extracts of dried flowers of Ichnocarpus frutescens L.were screened for anti-diabetic activity in normal rats, STZ induced diabetic rats and on serum glucose levels in glucose over loaded rats. The effect on the insulin level with treatment by aqueous and ethanolic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens L. flowers suggest that the mode of action is similar to that of glibenclamide. Oral administration of both the extracts for 21 days significantly reduced blood glucose level in STZ induced diabetic rats. Both the extracts exhibited antihyperglycemic effect in glucose loaded rats and STZ induced rats.