EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL, PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL OF ISODON ROGOSUS LINN

Background: In traditional medicine, Isodon rugosus is used to treat various ailments, including diabetes. Objectives: The current study aimed to identify the pharmacognostic, physicochemical and phytochemical composition and investigate I. rugosus's anti-diabetic activity. Methodology: Phytochemical testing was conducted to find chemical constituents of I. rugosus, as it has been reported to contain various phytochemicals. To perform in-vivo anti-diabetic activity, diabetes was induced in adult healthy male albino rats after a single injection of streptozocin (60 mg/kg i.p). Results: Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of I. rugosus revealed the presence of carbohydrates, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, which may contribute to its anti-diabetic activity. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed that I. rugosus significantly reduced serum glucose levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with the highest reduction observed at 300 mg/kg after 120 minutes. In the acute hypoglycemic study, I. rugosus also effectively lowered blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats, with the maximum reduction (201 ± 9.21 mg/dL) achieved at the highest dose (300 mg/kg) after 120 minutes. The chronic study demonstrated a substantial decline in blood glucose levels after 14 days of treatment, with the highest dose (300 mg/kg) reducing levels to 160.66 ± 53.17 mg/dL on day 14. Furthermore, I. rugosus normalized LFTs, including ALT, AST, and ALP levels, after 21 days. Histopathological analysis of STZ-induced pancreatic damage showed normal overall pancreatic morphology in rats treated with I. rogosus. Conclusion: In diabetic-treated rats, the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes were restored to normal levels following treatment with I. rugosus. These findings suggest that I. rugosus holds potential for the development of anti-diabetic drugs.