Antidiabetic Activity of Vasant Kusumakar Ras in Streptozotocin and High Fat Diet Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Sprague Dawley Rats

Background: VasantKusumakar Ras (VK Ras) is a traditional Ayurvedic preparation used in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes mellitus. Despite its clinical anti-diabetic claims, no pre-clinical attempts were made to rule out its efficacy as an antidiabetic agent. Objectives: The present study was carried out to find the anti-diabetic effect of VK Ras against a High-Fat Diet (HFD), and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetes and to explore the mode of action of VK Ras. Materials and Methods: Different doses of VK Ras were administered to diabetic rats for 35 days. The biochemical markers analysis, intestinal glucose uptake, and liver glycogen content were estimated at the end of the study and also vital organs were weighed and subjected to histopathological evaluation. Results: VK Ras treatment reduced blood glucose in a dose-dependent manner. The insulin, HbA1C, HOMA-IR, and lipid profiles were improved in VK Ras-treated animals as compared to diabetic control animals. The relative organ weights were changed in diabetic rats, and treatment with VK Ras corrected the organ weights. Intestinal glucose uptake and liver glycogen content were decreased with treatment. Further, the histopathological analysis of the pancreas and other vital organs had shown that dose-dependent restoration of organ function with VK Ras treatment. Conclusions: VK Ras treatment reduces insulin resistance as well as corrects the lipid, hepatic and renal abnormalities that arise from diabetes, these effects may be mediated by interfering with glucose transport from the gut and insulin release from the β pancreatic cells.