Hypoglycemic Activity of Methanol Fraction of Solanum Torvum (Swartz) Fruits in Normal and Streptozotocin Induced Hyperglycemic Rat Models

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrine disorder, now considered as a major global health problem which is affecting around 9.3% of world population and its incidence is increasing day by day. In India, several plants having hypoglycemic property are traditionally used in management of diabetes. Solanum torvum (Swartz) (ST) plant belonging to family Solanaceae; is medicinally reported and claims to cure various diseases in Indian traditional system of medicine (Ayurveda) and also in folklore and as per previous report, the decoction of its fruits is very useful in the treatment of diabetes. The thrust of this investigation is to examine the hypoglycemic efficacy of methanolic fractions (50, 100 and 200mg/kg body wt.) of ST fruits (MFST) from defatted hydro-alcoholic extract in normoglycemic, followed by Streptozotocin (45mg/kg) induced diabetic, and glucose loaded hyperglycemic rats by single as well as multiple oral administration in contrast to the standard drug glibenclamide (2.5mg/kg body wt.). In the beginning of the investigation, acute oral toxicity study of MFST was carried out in rats to determine the dose for experiment animals. The study report showed that the MFST (200mg/kg) significantly (pth hour and 3^rd hour respectively during the single dose study and from the 15^th day to 30^th day in multi dose study. The blood glucose level decreasing activity of MFST may be due to the secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds present in it. Hence the present investigation report reveals that MFST possess significant hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic activity which persuades the traditional use of the plant for the treatment or management of diabetes mellitus.