Investigation of Pajanelia longifolia Leaf Extract for Antidiabetic Activity

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a medical condition characterized by heightened levels of blood sugar, stemming from either inadequate production of insulin or an impaired response to insulin at the cellular level, whether due to a relative or absolute deficiency of the hormone. Traditional herbal remedies have a significant role in the treatment of DM. Pajanelia longifolia, known by the general population as Pajanelia or Tender wild jack has been a component of traditional herbal medicine in India and other Asian countries for the treatment of various ailments. The current research assessed the antidiabetic activity of Pajanelia longifolia leaf extract in streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, oral route) induced diabetic rats. The study utilized an in vivo streptozotocin induced diabetic model and an in vitro rat hemidiaphragm model for assessment of antidiabetic activity. Acute toxicity studies conducted on liposomes of Pajanelia longifolia leaf extract (2000 mg/kg body weight) proved the drug to be non-toxic. The effects of various doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) of extract were assessed. Glimepiride (2 mg/kg) and insulin (0.25 IU/ml) were used as the standard drugs for in vivo and in vitro studies, respectively. The decrease in blood glucose levels and the elevation of muscle and liver glycogen content in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin and the increased glucose uptake and glycogen content observed in in vitro rat hemidiaphragm technique proved that Pajanelia longifolia leaf extract has significant antidiabetic activity.