Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Capacity of Curcuma Longa and Viscum Album in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Male Wistar Rats

Plant based therapies may be a potent means of managing and preventing diabetes and currently, combination therapies are employed for the treatment of critical diseases. In view of this, the objectives of the present study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and antioxidant capacity C. longa, V. album and co-treatment with C. longa + V. album on diabetes and its related complication. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of C. longa and V. album were examined using standard procedures and the result revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and steroids respectively. Thirty six (36) male albino rats with the mean weight between 120-135g were divided into six (6) groups (n=6), group one (1) served as the normal control and there experimental groups were diabetic, induced with 150 mg/kg intraperitoneal alloxan injection. Body weight, blood sugar level, glycated hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, α-amylase, lipid profile, liver function and antioxidant markers were determined using standard procedures and the results revealed that, co-treatment with C. longa + V. album demonstrated an excellent weight reduction ability, hypoglycemic capacity, modulation of G6PDH, HBA1C and lipid profile, inhibition of α-amylase and enhancement of liver function and antioxidant levels. Therefore, co-treatment with C. longa + V. ablum can be a good therapeutic choice for the management of diabetes and its related conditions.