Comparative evaluation of aqueous leaf extract and dried latex powder of Carica papaya Linn. for their antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities  in Wistar rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the effect of dried latex powder (DLPCP) and aqueous leaf extract (ALECP) of Carica papaya Linn. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat model for a period of 21 days for their antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties. A total of 32 male Wistar rats, divided into four groups with eight animals in each group. The groups include normal control (Group-I), diabetic control (Group-II), diabetic rats treated with DLPCP @ 400mg/Kg b.wt (Group-III) and diabetic rats treated with ALECP @ 400 mg/Kg b.wt (Group-IV). Serum was collected on 0th , 4th, 14th and 21st days from all the experimental rats for serum biochemical analysis. On 21st day, the animals were sacrificed for histopathological examination of pancreas and liver. ALECP treatment group has shown antihyperglycemic activity as early as the 4th day (327.7 + 18.65) and hepatoprotective activity on the 4th day (252.9 + 4.6, 155.3 + 4.8), whereas, DLPCP treatment group has shown the similar affect on 21st day (311.7 + 28.83) and on 14th day (228.8 + 10.6, 179.8 + 0.9) of experiment respectively. Antihyperlipidemic affect was exhibited by both the treatment groups with reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and increased HDL levels, when compared to diabetic control groups. Histopathological examination has endorsed the biochemical findings. ALECP treatment when compared to DLPCP treatment has shown a better antidiabetic activity on the early days of experiment by ameliorating its associated affects. The present study indicate that ALECP acts as an alternative remedy for diabetes milletus.