Amaranthus viridis modulates anti-hyperglycemic pathways in hemi-diaphragm and improves glycogenesis liver function in rats

Amaranthus viridis is an ecumenical species in the botanical family of Amaranthaceae, which has been traditionally used to treat several skin diseases along with some antilipidemic activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic effect of 75% ethanolic extract of A. viridis in Neonatal streptozotocin (N-STZ) induced rats’ hemi-diaphragm, including screening for secondary plant metabolites. Qualitative phytochemical studies were done by various conventional methods for the possible secondary metabolites. For antidiabetic assay via hemi-diaphragm, Long-Evan rats were used in the study. Type 2 diabetes was induced by a single ip injection of streptozotocin to 48 h old pups (N-STZ) and after 3 months, rats were confirmed by an oral glucose tolerance test and further selected for the experiment. Studies to evaluate the glucose utilization capacity of A. viridis in isolated rat hemi-diaphragm were done. The data were analyzed by appropriate statistical analysis. In vitro glucose uptake by hemi-diaphragm study showed glucose uptake increased significantly in left diaphragm of type 2 diabetes mellitus with insulin alone treated and A. viridis alone treated group, where A. viridis alone treated group showed very highly significance (p=0.000). Treatment with both insulin and A. viridis increased the glucose uptake also very significantly (p=0.004). A. viridis extract acted more significantly compared to insulin in T2DM rats. In the normal rats at left hemi diaphragm, A. viridis extract also increased glucose uptake more significantly (p=0.009) compared to insulin (p=0.013). At the right diaphragm, glucose uptake increased in all treated groups compared to control group but not significantly. This plant may contain potential anti-hyperglycemic agents which possibly act through some extra pancreatic mechanism that include glucose uptake by diaphragm and increased glycogenesis by liver. Key words: Amaranthus viridis, antidiabetic, hemi-diaphragm, streptozotocin, glucose, Long-Evan rats.