Toxicological Assessment and Anti-diabetic Effects of Combined Extract of Chirata, Fenugreek and Sesame on Regulating TNF-α, TGF-β and Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.

Background: Swertia chirayita, Trigonella foenum-gracum and Sesamum indicum are used as traditional medicines to treat diabetes mellitus. A collection of metabolic illnesses known as diabetes mellitus (DM) involves chronic hyperglycemia caused by flaws in insulin secretion, function, or both. Innate immunity and inflammation both play important roles in the etiology of diabetes- related microvascular problems.

Objective: This study aims to examine the anti-diabetic effects and the acute toxicity of combined extract (1:1:1) of Swertia chirayita, Trigonella foenum-gracum and Sesamum indicum. To address the demand for higher effectiveness and safety, the current effort aims to construct anti-diabetic preparations containing methanolic extract from herbal medications.

Methods: The OECD 423 method was used to investigate acute toxicity in rats. Rats were used as test subjects, and rats were given a 35 mg/kg BW injection of streptozotocin to develop diabetes. The diabetic control group was given Glibenclamide 0.25 mg/kg BW, while the experimental group's diabetic rats received 125 mg/kg BW and 250 mg/kg BW of a combined methanolic extract of all plants. Among the measurements looked at were acute oral toxicity, behavioral changes, body weight, serum glucose levels, lipid profiles, oxidative stress, renal function tests, and inflammatory mediators. All the rat groups' histopathologies of the kidney, liver, and stomach were compared. The data were evaluated using analysis of variance, and a post hoc test was then carried out.

Results: The combined extracts' medium lethal doses (LD₅₀) were higher than 2000 mg/kg, indicating that they are not poisonous under the conditions that can be observed. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats' elevated blood glucose was found to be considerably lower (p 0.01) in the treated group of rats. In the treated group of rats, it was discovered that the damage and disarray in the cells typical of Streptozotocin-induced DM had been repaired. The treated group of rats returned to normal levels of the lipid profile, hyperglycemia, decreased serum protein and liver glycogen, increased liver function, and kidney function markers seen in the rats of the DM control group.

Conclusion: The evaluated combined methanolic extract can be considered safe for use in rats. Combining methanolic extract from all selected medicinal plants (Swertia chirayita, Trigonella foenum-gracum and Sesamum indicum) has a potential anti-diabetic effect and can be safely developed as an alternative medicine.