Investigation and In Vivo Demonstration of Synergistic Antidiabetic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Aegle marmelos and Withania coagulans

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder, is becoming the third "killer" of the health of mankind along with cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases because of its high prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Medicinal plants play an important role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, particularly in the developing countries due to their low cost. Aegle marmelos popularly known as bael, golden apple and Withania coagulans known as Indian cheese maker, panir dodi, panir ka ful, are commonly used as a food and in the Indian traditional medicinal system for the management various diseases particularly type 2 diabetic mellitus. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential synergistic anti-diabetic activity of combined extract of Aegle marmelos and Withania coagulans. Fresh leaves of Aegle marmelos and dried fruits of Withania coagulans were used in the study. Maceration with timely stirring process and de-fatting method were employed for the preparation of aqueous extracts. Alloxan-induced diabetic animal model was used for evaluation of pharmacological activity. Acute antidiabetic study (24 hours) in Alloxan-induced diabetic mice treated with standard drug glibenclamide, 31.90% maximum fall in fasting blood glucose (FBG) level was observed while combined extract (AM+WC3) shown 23.35% maximum fall in FBG. Long term sub-chronic anti-diabetic evaluation (21 Days) demonstrate the impact of the most effective combination extract (AM+WC2) which lowered 50.29% FBG on 21^th day while glibenclamide exerted only 39.11% maximum fall in FBG. Results from acute and sub-chronic antidiabetic studies clearly shows the reliability of this novel synergistic combination approach of these traditional herbs extracts for efficient, long term, static and therapeutically safe management of prevailing diabetic condition.