EVALUATION OF NOVEL POLYHERBAL EXTRACT COMBINATION ON GLUCOSE AND LIPID DYSREGULATION IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-NICOTINAMIDE-INDUCED DIABETIC WISTAR RATS

Abstract

The present research was planned to investigate the efficacy of a newly formulated polyherbal extract combination, derived from the combination of ethanolic extracts of stem bark of Ficus racemose, leaves of Tecoma stans, and leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis and seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, in mitigating the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated dyslipidemia in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetic Wistar rat model. After inducing T2DM with an intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight), followed by 120 mg/kg b.w. of nicotinamide in 8-10-week-old Wistar rats. Animals were orally treated with polyherbal extract combination (developed with mixing ethanolic extracts of all four plants) 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg b.w. and standard antidiabetic agent glibenclamide 5 mg/kg b.w. for 7 hours in case of an acute anti-hyperglycemic study. Consecutively, sub-acute study of 28-day was conducted using the best polyherbal extract combination (PEC) strength. The integrity of the pancreatic tissue was evaluated histopathologically at the study endpoint. After scarifying rats, different biochemical parameters including lipid profiles were studied to evaluate the complete effect of PEC treatment. The diabetic control group demonstrated persistent, severe hyperglycemia, significant disruption of the lipid balance, and significant body weight loss. Administration of PEC 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg b.w., in an acute antihyperglycemic study, resulted in a substantial reduction in FBG compared to the untreated diabetic group, improving blood sugar levels. In a sub-acute study of 28 days significant reduction in FBG by PEC 300 and 400 was noted, followed by an increase in body weight compared to the diabetic control group. Furthermore, PEC therapy attenuated dyslipidemia, achieving significant reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL, alongside a favorable increase in HDL. PEC significantly improved HbA1c, HOMA-IR and plasma insulin level to near normal. Histological examination confirmed that PEC preserved the structure and enhanced the cellular mass of the pancreatic Islets of Langerhans in a dose-dependent manner. The results validated the significant antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic actions of the novel PEC in the STZ-NA rat model, establishing it as a promising therapeutic candidate for simultaneously managing blood sugar and lipid abnormalities associated with T2DM.