Abstract
Withania coagulans is used in indigenous system of medicine in several conditions, and its aqueous extract alone has reported antihyperglycemic activity. As per the principles of Indigenous System of Medicine, the combined use of aqueous and chloroform extracts of W coagulans fruits, containing multi-constituents, has been evaluated for the effect on blood glucose, lipid profile and body weight in type 2 diabetic rats. The aqueous and chloroform extracts were prepared by simple maceration and hot refluxing using Soxhlet apparatus, respectively. They were administered orally singly and concurrently as combination, once daily, a dose of 1 g kg —1 for 14 days in different groups of normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats. Orally normal saline 1 mL 100g— 1, and Metformin 500 mg kg—1, were used as control and standard, respectively. Aqueous extract showed highly significant (p < .01) decrease in the blood glucose (52%), triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL level and highly significant (p < .01) increase in HDL level. The antihyperglycemic effect was found slightly (6%) superior to metformin. The combination of aqueous and chloroform extracts showed highly significant (p < .01) decrease in the blood glucose (55%), triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL levels, and a highly significant (p < .01) increase in HDL level. The antihyperglycemic effect being better than Metformin and aqueous extracts, 9% and 3%, respectively.