EVALUATION OF THE HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACTS OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM) AND EMBLICA OFFICINALIS (AMLA) IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and debilitating health condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Neem and Amla leaves are used traditionally to manage patients with diabetic symptoms. Thus, scientific evaluations of these herbal remedies is highly recommended. Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of aqueous leave extracts of Neem, Amla, and their combination in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Experimental methods: Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was done by inducing a hyperglycemic state via the administration of glucose solution (2mg/kg). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg). A single dose of neem (400mg/kg), amla (400mg/kg), and their combination (400mg/kg), as well as metformin 100mg/kg, were administered orally to hyperglycemic rats in both OGTT and STZ induced rats. Results: Administration of neem (400mg/kg), amla (400mg/kg), and their combination (400mg/kg), as well as metformin 100mg/kg orally have shown a significant reduction in blood sugar level (p < 0.05) in both OGTT and STZ-induced diabetic rats. Hypoglycemic effects were shown best in combined neem-amla extract than the individual doses of either plant. A significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between the diabetic control group and the groups treated with the combined extracts and metformin. Conclusion: The outcome of this study revealed that the extracts of neem and amla possess hypoglycemic effects and thus, hold potential for use as antidiabetic agents. Therefore, the mechanisms through which these plants exert their hypoglyecemic effects should be elucidated.