Antihyperglycemic Activity of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.) in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

The investigation was carried out to study the antihyperglycemic effects of ethanolic extract of Anacardium occidentale leaves in normal, glucose loaded and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The ethanolic extract of A. occidentale at a dose of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg of body weight (p.o) and standard drug glibenclamide 500 μg/kg, in all three animal models. The serum glucose level was determined at 0, 4, 8 and 12 days after treatment. The extract exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity in all three animal models when compared with a standard antidiabetic agent Glibenclamide. The hypoglycemia produced by the extract may be due to increased uptake of glucose at tissue level and or increase in pancreatic β-cell function or due to inhibition of intestinal glucose absorption of glucose. The study indicated that the ethanolic extract of Anacardium occidentale is a potential antidiabetic agent and lends scientific support for it’s use in folk medicine.