Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidaemic potential of Amaranthus viridis (L.) Merr. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Objective: The present study is planned to investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidaemic\udpotential of Amaranthus viridis stem aqueous extract (AVSAE) in Stz-induced diabetic rats.\udMethods: Diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55mg/kg b.wt.).\udAfter 72 h rats with marked hyperglycaemia (fasting blood glucose ≥250 mg/dl) were selected and\udused for the study. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated by administration of AVSAE orally at the\uddoses of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 30 days. Glibenclamide (500 ug/kg) was used as the\udreference drug. Fasting blood glucose and lipid parameters, viz. triglycerides, total cholesterol,\udhigh density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein levels were measured. Results: In STZinduced diabetic rats, repeated administration of AVSAE significantly (P< 0.05) decreased the\udblood glucose level in a dose-dependent manner during the 30 days of treatment period. AVSAE\udmodulated lipid profile changes in STZ-diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions:\udThe significant control of serum lipids levels in the AVSAE treated diabetic rats may be directly\udattributed to improvement in glycemic control upon AVSAE therapy. Hence, these findings\uddemonstrate that Amaranthus viridis has the potential to treat diabetes mellitus and complications\udowing to its antidiabetic and antihyperlipidaemic effect